Cooper and bennetts Suzuki win with new GSX-R1000 at BSB opener

The Bennetts Suzuki team has given the all-new GSX-R1000 its first British championship race win, after Richard Cooper took victory in today's National Superstock 1000 race.
Cooper, who finished second in yesterday's two-part race, started today's race from pole position. After leading the way into turn one, he was holding a podium position when the race was red-flagged. Again starting from pole in the restart, Cooper battled at the front for the full race distance and grabbed the lead when it mattered, with a last lap pass securing his and the team's first victory of the season.
Richard Cooper, "I'm really happy, and happy for the team, too, as they've worked very hard to get us to this point. It looks like Superstock is going to be competitive all year, and we're up against some good riders, but to get a second and a win in our first weekend with a new bike is really good. We still need to improve the bike. It gets out of corners so well and drives forward well, but we need to improve our corner entry. We'll work on the setup to try and sort it, and then the bike's on the money. It's early days, but it's a good start and hopefully we can continue like this."

Richard Cooper, "I'm really happy, and happy for the team, too, as they've worked very hard to get us to this point. It looks like Superstock is going to be competitive all year, and we're up against some good riders, but to get a second and a win in our first weekend with a new bike is really good. We still need to improve the bike. It gets out of corners so well and drives forward well, but we need to improve our corner entry. We'll work on the setup to try and sort it, and then the bike's on the money. It's early days, but it's a good start and hopefully we can continue like this."

Steve Hicken - team manager, "It's been a really up and down weekend. We're obviously really happy with the performances in Superstock this weekend. To start the season with a podium yesterday and then follow it up with a win today is more than we could have asked for with a new bike, but at the same time we knew the base package of the new GSX-R1000 was really strong. There are some areas we need to improve the bike, mostly corner entry, but it's fantastic to be able to give the GSX-R and Suzuki their first win in the British championship.

Superstock 1000 race result: 1. Richard Cooper, 2. Danny Buchan, 3. Ian Hutchinson

Race report and image courtesy of Bennetts Suzuki/ Hawk Racing.