NW200 disqualification ‘makes me question our sport’ - Cooper

Last weekend’s North West 200 was a bitter-sweet meeting for Richard Cooper with the former National Superstock Champion and BSB race winner taking two wins, five podiums and a lap record from his five races only to lose his victories when disqualified from the two Supertwin races for a technical infringement.

Riding the JMcC Roofing/KMR Kawasaki, the 39-year old dominated both of the 4-lap encounters, winning by 8.4s and 11.2s respectively whilst also smashing the old lap record with a speed of 112.490mph. However, all of those achievements were wiped from the record books at the conclusion of the day’s racing with Cooper later making his feelings clear on his social media account. “Regardless of what the timesheet says, the little bike did me proud. Pole position, two wins and a new lap record all taken away from me. It literally does make me question our sport at times like these.” “One thing for sure, you’ll never be able to take away the feeling of standing on the top step pf the box with my team and family around me. JMcC Roofing Race Team & Ryan Farquhar, thank you.” The controversy detracted from what had been a simply superb meeting for the Nottingham rider where he also excelled on the Hawk Racing Suzuki’s in just his second appearance at the meeting. The best newcomer in 2019, Cooper, who was having his first top flight race since badly breaking his leg at Donington Park in 2020, opened his account for the week with third in Thursday’s wet Superstock race behind eventual race winner Alastair Seeley and Davey Todd. “I was quite happy to let Davey and Alastair lead the way and pull me away from the rest of the field, but I ran on at one of the chicanes and dropped back,” he explained. “I kept plugging away, but