Cooper to miss Croft

National Superstock rider Richard Cooper,  who delivered a stunning pole position to race win comeback at Cadwell Park, will be sitting out of the race at Croft after sustaining an injury to his thumb during qualifying at Cadwell.

Cooper had been out of the saddle for six weeks after an operation to banish the arm pump which had held him back earlier in the season.

The decision paid off as he returned to take his first Superstock pole position and first race win of the year on his Jentin BMW S1000RR at Cadwell Park – and set a new lap record in the process.

He went straight from the podium to the medical centre for an x-ray which showed that he’d been racing with a small crack in a bone and had pulled his thumb out of line. He’s since visited the hospital and had his thumb repositioned and his arm put in plaster as a precaution.

Cooper said: “It was such an amazing feeling to be winning again but then I get the massive disappointment of having to sit out another race. It really has been a season of massive highs and lows.

“I’m heartbroken that I’ll be missing Croft, particularly after the win at Cadwell, but it’s the right decision to make. It’s better to sit out one race than it is to struggle in the remaining three.

“The doctor said I’ll be 100% for Silverstone so I’ll be aiming to repeat my Cadwell win there. I’m just so eager to get back on my bike again and keep winning, it’s very frustrating to have to sit back and be patient, again.”

Team manager Bernie Toleman added: “Well obviously we’re all a little disappointed that Richard can’t make Croft after such an amazing comeback performance at Cadwell Park – but it’s better that he sits this one out and comes back strong for the final two rounds at Silverstone and Oulton Park.

“In the mean time, we have recent recruit Tristan Palmer to fly the Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad flag in the Superstock race and Steve Brogan leading the BSB-EVO championship – which is a nice position to be in.”

Brogan leads the BSB Evo class following his double win at Cadwell and has a 48-point lead over Hudson Kennaugh.