RICHARD COOPER JOINS THREE-MAN BUILDBASE BMW SQUAD AT CADWELL PARK
RICHARD COOPER JOINS THREE-MAN BUILDBASE BMW SQUAD AT CADWELL PARK
Richard Cooper will join the Buildbase BMW Motorrad team from the eighth round of the 2015 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park as he looks to secure an all important top six showdown spot.With five races remaining before the cut off point, Cooper sits just 36 points from a place in the three-round title showdown.
The Nottingham-based rider has shown promise so far this season and twice finished on the podium at Brands Hatch last month.
Cooper took victory for Buildbase BMW at Cadwell on his way to the 2011 National Superstock 1000 title and is raring to go ahead of the weekend.
He joined the team’s existing riders, Lee Jackson and Ryuichi Kiyonari for a shakedown test at Mallory Park this afternoon with all three setting an impressive pace.
After an astonishing ride from dead last on the grid to ninth place at Thruxton, Jackson is revved up ahead of his home round.
The Lincolnshire teenager has his eyes set on two top ten results to build on his consistent run of point-scoring finishes.
Ryuichi Kiyonari, who lives just a stone’s throw away from the Cadwell Park circuit, is determined to turn his season around after a tough few rounds.
The three-times British Champion was lapping at record pace during this afternoon’s test and is feeling confident ahead of the weekend.
Richard Cooper: “I’m delighted to be returning to the Buildbase BMW team. Coming back here is something I've wanted to do since I left them as National Superstock champion in 2011. We've had a great day testing at Mallory today, we must have done 100 laps and the bike is brilliant, I can't wait to ride it at the weekend.
"With five races to go until the showdown, we are 36 points off the top six so it is within our grasp but the team have said there is no pressure so we will take it as it comes. We've got a package capable of running at the front."
Ryuichi Kiyonari: “I like Cadwell, it is a fun circuit but can be quite difficult. After Brands Hatch and Thruxton I need to get a good result. Today at Mallory we had a really good test, I enjoyed riding the bike and our lap time was fast so I am feeling confident ahead of the weekend."
Lee Jackson: “I always enjoy my home round, the crowds at Cadwell are always impressive! That being said, I will just be treating it like any other round. I felt on good form at Thruxton but the first race crash set us back and I had a lot of work to do in the second race starting from last! I’m hoping we can pick up where we left off and have two strong, top ten finishes here.”
Steve Hicken, Team Manager: “It's great to have Richard back with the team. We've always had a great relationship since he rode for us back in 2011. He's shown a lot of potential so far this year and we are confident of continuing that.
"We've had a really productive day with all three riders at Mallory today, Cooper’s lap times were really impressive and so were Lee and Kiyo's. It's been a bit of a bumpy start to 2015 for us but we're feeling really positive ahead of Cadwell."
