'Better than what I expected' - Max Cook makes instant impression on bimota in opening British Superbike test of 2026 at Donington Park
Swindon’s Max Cook made an instant impact on the AJN Steelstock bimota as he topped the times overall during the opening British Superbike test at Donington Park.
Cook lapped in 1m 27.184s on Saturday to record the fastest lap for the FS-3 Racing Team by 0.285s from Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha rider Danny Kent, whose team-mate Rory Skinner was third fastest, only 0.030s further adrift.
The FS-3 Racing Team has made the switch from Kawasaki to the KB998 Rimini Superbike, with Joe Talbot – ninth fastest overall – making his BSB debut this year alongside Cook.
“It’s been better than what I ever could have expected, to be honest,” Cook told the British Superbike Championship.
“The package is just amazing and I’m really impressed with all they efforts that they’ve gone through and they’ve brought over Marcel [Duinker] from the World Superbike squad, and he oversees the whole project.
“He’s be so impressive and any little thing which I might be unsure about, I can tell to him and my crew chief Ian [Prestwood] and he’ll have a resolution for it straight away.
“Things like that is really impressive to me and that’s why I’ve been able to make progress in every single session, which I’ve done so far, and I’m so proud to be flying the flag for bimota in the UK.
“Me and Joe had such a good test and it’s his debut on a Superbike, and he did a mega job too so I think things are going well.”
Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) and Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha were fourth and fifth respectively with reigning champion Kyle Ryde in sixth.
Ryde was in action on a Superstock-spec Ducati with the Nitrous Competitions Racing team still waiting on their 2026 V4R race bikes.
However, Ryde and team-mate Glenn Irwin are expected to have their machines for the next test at Oulton Park from April 21-22.
Scott Redding and the PBM Ducati are also waiting on their race bikes to be prepped ahead of the next test.
Northern Ireland’s Eugene McManus, making his BSB debut this year, was 16th fastest across the two-day test on the MasterMac Honda for the Hawk Racing team, with team-mate and fellow BSB newcomer Rhys Irwin in 20th. Irwin is stepping up to the Superbike class in 2026 after winning the British Supersport crown last year.
Richard Kerr was 22nd fastest for new team SM Racing on a Honda behind Peter Hickman (8TEN Racing BMW).
Storm Stacey, who will make his road racing debut at the North West 200 in May, was 15th on the Bathams AJN Racing Ducati.
In the British Supersport class, five-time champion Jack Kennedy led the way for Honda Racing UK from team-mate and road racing star Dean Harrison by 0.460s.
Jack Burrows was fourth overall in Moto4 British Cup testing on the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing Honda, while Isaac Mark topped the times in the Junior Sportbike class for Steve Brogan’s team.
Dungannon’s Cameron Dawson was second fastest in the Sportbike class with Alastair Seeley fifth as he clocked up some miles on the Binch Racing Aprilia he will ride in the Supertwin races at the North West 200.