Cooper wins Stars at Darley

Co-ordit Performance’s Richard Cooper made the perfect preparations for the final round of this weekend’s National Superstock championship at Oulton by his Stars at Darley title last Sunday.

Cooper and the Co-ordit Yamaha team arrived at the event as firm favourite to retain the title, despite the inclusion of Michael Rutter on the Bathams Ducati and John McGuinness on the race card.

The prospect of reigniting the 2008 Stars at Darley battle with National Superstock compatriot  John McGuinness was cut short as the Padgetts Honda rider crashed heavily in practice.

Hospital X-rays confirmed the worst for the TT legend – a broken right hand, forcing McGuinness to take his place as commentator and spectator for the races.

Cooper claimed both race wins by the incredible margins of 23 and 18 seconds respectively in the 10 lap races, over James Hillier and Sam Warren.

In doing so, Cooper smashed the outright lap record around the 1.5 mile Darley Moor circuit, with a blistering time of 53.48s (100.97mph) on the fourth lap of race one, only to match his new lap record on the first flying lap of race two.

Cooper said: “The weekend all went to plan for me and the team. With two race wins and the  outright lap and race time records, it was great to defend my title so well. It’s given myself and the team a massive boost going into the final National Superstock round this weekend at Oulton.”