Cooper to join Buildbase BMW for remainder of 2015

Richard Cooper will join the Buildbase BMW squad for the remainder of the 2015 MCE British Superbike season, after parting ways with the Anvil hire TAG Kawasaki team after the last round at Thruxton.

Speaking as the news was confirmed, Cooper, who won BMW’s first ever national title with the S1000RR with the Buildbase team in the National Superstock 1000 series, spoke of how happy he was to be reunited with the team.

“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. It’s a bit unexpected to make the move mid-season but that’s the way it is. 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.” 

Team boss Steve Hicken – no stranger to last minute rider additions after his eleventh hour Isle of Man TT trip with Michael Dunlop – says that Cooper has a lot of potential.

“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 at Mallory today, his 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.”