RICHARD COOPER AIMING HIGH FOR 2025 BRIGGS EQUIPMENT NORTH WEST 200 RACE WEEK ON MAY 5-10

Richard Cooper’s love affair with the Briggs Equipment North West 200 is set to continue in 2025 as the three-time British champion returns to Portrush with the BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha and Jack Reid Cars/KMR Kawasaki squads on May 5-10.

The 42 year old added a maiden win in the Fraser Homes Supersport race on Alastair Russell’s R6 at last year’s NW200 to his four previous Supertwin victories at the north coast event with Ryan Farquhar’s KMR team. Cooper feels staying put with the same teams for 2025 will work to his advantage despite major changes to the technical rules across both classes.

‘I’ve finished on the podium in every class I’ve raced in during each season that I have competed at the North West since I made my debut in 2019.’ the Nottingham rider pointed out during a recent visit to the north coast.

‘I’ve no reason to change teams this year. They are both great teams that give me everything I want and make my life easier as I am coming here knowing I will have the same package.’

The winner of the four previous NW200 Supertwin races, Cooper lost out to Peter Hickman in both Twins races at last year’s North West. But although he acknowledges the advantages some of the new generation of Supertwin and Supersport-spec bikes now enjoy over the ER6 Kawasaki and R6 Yamahas he will ride in 2025, Cooper feels he has the ability to compensate for any disadvantage in performance he encounters with his own ability.

‘The new rules allow these other bikes on to the grid now and there is no hiding the advantages they have but we are still competitive and we just have to deal with the situation by making improvements ourselves.’ he said.

‘We can make little bits of improvement with our bikes and also with myself. It is still possible to win but I have to use the strengths of my bike and not focus on the weaknesses. For instance, in the Supersport class the Ducati has more torque than my Yamaha R6, with more punch out of the corners. But it probably doesn’t have the top end speed of my bike. So I have to make sure that I make my bike work better, carry more corner speed and avoid getting jammed up in the slower corners.’

Such is the level of Cooper’s commitment to achieving more North West 200 success, the Englishman has stepped back from British championship competition to focus on his road racing.  Riding for two Northern Ireland-based teams, he will use early season outings in the Ulster Superbike championship as preparation for the North West.

‘The North West 200 is a big event for me and with both of my teams based here in Ireland it is more cost effective to ride here.’ Cooper explained before scooping a brilliant quartet of wins across the Supertwin and Supersport classes in the opening round of the USBK series at Bishopscourt last weekend.

During his recent trip to the 8.9 mile Triangle course Cooper also inspected the new road layout between University Corner and the Ballysally Roundabout following the recent installation of a new cycle lane.

‘I think it will make that section faster, opening up University corner and making the roundabout smoother.’ was Cooper’s verdict before laying bare his 2025 NW200 ambitions.

“Everyone wants to win.’ he explained.

‘It is getting harder every year but if I have a chance of getting on to the podium then I have a chance of winning. I won a Supersport race here last year and that is, in my view, the hardest race to win at the North West. I’d love to win another one this year. But it almost always comes down to Juniper chicane on the last lap and I’ll be very surprised if that isn’t the same this year!’

Mervyn Whyte NW200 Race Director and Competitor Richard Cooper

Picture by Stephen Davidson

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