BSB: Cooper tames BMW for front row start

Richard Cooper will start tomorrow’s opening MCE British Superbike race at Cadwell Park from the front row of the grid after a stunning lap in qualifying this afternoon.

The Buildbase BMW man posted a 1’26.126 on his first flying lap of the Q3 session, which initially looked quick enough to secure him pole position until it was slightly bettered by Shane Byrne and Leon Haslam as the session progressed. 

Both Cooper and team-mate Lee Jackson have been quick throughout the weekend so far, something Cooper will be hoping to aid him in securing a top six position for the all-important Showdown which kicks off at Donington Park next month.

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“The team told me I could have two sausages off the BBQ if I did a 1’26.1 and I’m not actually kidding!” Cooper said, speaking to MCN after qualifying. “I didn’t think I could do it to be honest. We had good pace in Q1 and Q2 and I thought I’d put everything on the line in Q3 and I did. The bike has been perfect all weekend and even at that pace the bike felt great, when I saw the time I thought ‘if they can beat that, they are welcome to it!’ and typically of BSB, two of them did!

“Fair play to those boys, to go that fast around this circuit on the bikes we’re riding now is incredible as you’re on the edge. My bike is fast and hard to control at times and I felt I had the better of it today, which is a really nice feeling. It’s tight round here so to be on the front row is a massive thing and I’m confident we can go with them tomorrow.” 

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