COOPER TAKES DEBUT VICTORY FOR BUILDBASE BMW AT OULTON PARK
COOPER TAKES DEBUT VICTORY FOR BUILDBASE BMW AT OULTON PARK
COOPER TAKES DEBUT VICTORY FOR BUILDBASE BMW AT OULTON PARK
It was a joyous day for Buildbase BMW this bank holiday Monday as Richard Cooper took his debut victory in the second round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park. After a ninth-placed finish in the first race, his first top ten of the season, Cooper was quick to take a gamble on the line for race two. Rainfall just before the race had wet the circuit but with the sun shining, he knew it wouldn’t be long before a dry line would start to form. Shooting off the line to be in the leading pack from the off, Cooper worked hard in the early part of the race despite riding with a slick tyre in pretty much wet conditions. This determination saw him build a gap over the riders behind to lead the race by two seconds, a gap only diminished when rain began to fall again. Cooper managed to hold off an attack from Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon, who led into the final corner, and got the draft to the line to take his debut victory. Cooper’s victory boosts him up the championship standings, where he now lies in sixth place and with five podium credits to his name, he’ll be hoping he can stay in the showdown spot. Team-mate Lee Jackson finished 14th and 13th in the two races respectively. Initially the Lincolnshire youngster had run towards the front in the second race, holding off big names like Shane Byrne, Leon Haslam and Michael Laverty but as conditions dried he lost ground and fell through the pack. It was another strong weekend for Taylor Mackenzie in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship. Despite dropping back to 17th after a bad start from pole position, he fought back through the pack to take a convincing second place behind runaway race winner Keith Farmer and now leads the championship by ten points.Richard Cooper:“I’m always one of the first to put a slick in when there’s in-between conditions and today that gamble paid off for us. I knew the start would be important so I went for it from the word go and managed to get into the lead and build a gap. When it started raining again I lost a bit of time because I bottled it, but I’ve ridden with Christian quite a bit so I was still confident. When he went a bit deep at Lodge I gave it all I had and crossed the line first. It’s amazing to take the first win, it’s great for the team and a reflection of the hard work we’re putting in.”Lee Jackson:“I’m disappointed not to have finished in the top ten this weekend after the strong qualifying but it wasn’t to be. I got a good start to the second race and was fighting with Shakey but when it dried up I lost a bit of pace.”Taylor Mackenzie:“I made it hard work for myself today with that start! Without it I’m sure we could have maybe gone one better but considering I was 17th at one point I’ll take second place. The bike was great and we were strong in both the wet and dry. I’m really enjoying riding at the minute so I wish Brands wasn’t so far away!”Steve Hicken:“Cooper’s win today shows the determination and hard work he puts in. He’s had a good start to the season but the results haven’t reflected that until today! He took a gamble with the tyre but you’ve still got to ride the thing and that meant riding with a slick rear in almost wet conditions at the start. He’s shown what he’s capable of and it’s nice to be back on the top step in the superbike class. "It was a good weekend for Lee, he’s probably not too happy with the results but he hasn’t spent that much time riding in those conditions and it’s all a learning experience. “Taylor is proving what a class act he is. To ride from 17th to second in those conditions is remarkable.”
