Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Racing team boss Nigel Snook says the front-running pace of rookie Max Cook at Thruxton has vindicated its gamble to promote the youngster straight onto its British Superbike Championship this season.

The 20-year old made his BSB bow this season after being hired by the Kawasaki UK-backed FS-3 Racing team to replace Moto2-bound Rory Skinner and join the experienced Lee Jackson in its line-up.

With a burgeoning career path that bears similarities to that of Skinner - including stints competing in the highly-competitive European GP stage - Cook’s graduation to BSB straight from the Junior Superstock Championship he won in 2022 has stirred a substantial amount of publicity.

It’s a spotlight - coupled with the demands of making a significant step in both size and power - that proved a challenge during the initial rounds, but recent events have since suggested Kawasaki and FS-3 Racing’s investment is starting to reap rewards.

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After breaking into the top ten for the first time during Round 6 at Brands Hatch, Cook stole the show next time out at Thruxton by finishing just +0.013s shy of a maiden podium, while he also started from the front row and led a BSB race for the first time.

Writing in his post-event blog, Snook says: “Max was just a little apprehensive about taming the 100 or so extra brake horsepower of his Cheshire Mouldings ZX-10RR Kawasaki, compared with the Junior Superstock bike he won on last year. [But] it [Race 1] was a great race which everyone seemed to enjoy.

“Lining up alongside Haslam with Vickers on pole [in Race 3], Max did as you’d expect, nailed the start and got to the first turn with a clear lead – no jump starts! 

“Max and Vickers pulled away for a few laps before settling into a tyre preservation race pace and the following group closed in. 

“Vickers eventually passed Max at the chicane going on to lap seven – Max having led a superbike race from the start to one third distance on his first visit to Thruxton in the premier class. Impressive stuff.”

With Cook’s performances earning widespread praise, for Snook, he says the results go a long way to justifying FS-3 Racing’s faith in promoting him directly from Junior SSTK.

“What a weekend for the team – Lee back up to speed with two podium finishes and Max demonstrating his true potential now he’s fully comfortable on his Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki ZX-10RR.

“It confirmed, if there were any remaining doubts, our decision to put Max straight on to a Superbike after his Junior Superstock heroics.”