Daytona 200: BMW's Richard Cooper finishes fifth

Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport were celebrating after the Daytona 200 at the weekend as Britain’s Richard Cooper and team-mate Brian Parriott finished a sensational fifth and sixth.

And with Attack Kawasaki’s Chaz Davies winning the race, Cooper was the second Brit in the top six.

Both riders had heart-stopping moments on the opening lap, with Parriott crashing, but each brushed aside any difficulties and carried on to record impressive finishes.

Rico Penzkofer was hit from behind on the opening lap and crashed, almost taking out team mate Cooper in the process.

He suffered heavy bruising and was unable to remount his bike and continue. Nate Kern had crashed in the morning warm-up and injured his right hand, but decided to try and start the race. However, on the opening lap, he couldn’t feel the throttle so was forced to pull out.

Attack Kawasaki’s British rider Chad Davies was handed the win after on-track winner Josh Hayes was disqualified for a technical infringement.

This meant Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport riders Richard Cooper and Brian Parriott – who originally finished sixth and seventh, moved up the order to fifth and sixth places respectively.

After the news was broadcasted, Berti Hauser (Director of Motorrad Motorsport) said: “The news is fantastic for sure. We were very happy with the original results, so to now get fifth and sixth makes us even more happy and an even bigger reward for all the hard work the whole team has put in this week.

“To get two riders in the top ten in such a famous race is a big achievement indeed and is a testament to our great team and their never-say-die attitude.

“Richard used great strategy and thoroughly earned his result and I’m proud of the way he conducted his race today.

“We learned a lot here because the procedure for the Daytona 200 is nothing like an Endurance race, but the team adapted to this superbly and we want to dedicate our success to Thomas Hinterreiter.”

Richard Cooper said: “I can’t tell you how surprised, but happy I am over this result.

“This is my fourth time at Daytona and every time before I’ve had some misfortune or other. On the first lap, I nearly hit Rico, when he was nudged from behind.

“I managed to brake hard and just missed him, but it was pretty close! After that the race settled down and I had no problems whatsoever.

“I knew that a top 15 finish was the goal, but I was hoping for a top ten result, so to get fifth is amazing – particularly as this place is so special for me.

“The pit-stops were perfect and the bike was a dream, and that’s down to all the hard work the team put in.”

Results:

1. Chaz Davies, Kawasaki, 69 laps
2. Steve Rapp, Kawasaki, 69 laps
3. Larry Pegram, Ducati, 68 laps
4. Martin Cardenas, Suzuki, 68 laps
5. Richard Cooper, BMW Motorrad Motorsport, 67 laps
6. Brian Parriott, BMW Motorrad Motorsport, 67 laps
7. Bobby Fong, Suzuki, 67 laps
8. Bostjan Skubic, Yamaha, 67 laps
9. Steve Atlas, Honda, 66 laps