Richard Cooper has been excluded from the results of the Supertwin races at the North West 200 due to a technical infringement.
The 39-year-old had won both races on the Ryan Farquhar-prepared J McC Roofing Kawasaki by a wide margin, but his disqualification means Frenchman Pierre Yves Bian (VAS Paton) is the winner of race one, with Joe Loughlin from Castleblayney declared the winner of race two.
Prior to the disqualification, Farquhar revealed that a protest had been submitted over a technical infringement.
He said: “A protest has been put in over a technicality to do with a fairing bracket.
“I fought my corner because you’re allowed to change the bracket, and it was done for safety. They weren’t going to let Richard out in that race and said he had been disqualified, but I put an appeal in against it and that’s where we are at the moment.
“The bike went through scrutineering all week and it’s visible for everyone to see – it’s only a bracket holding the fairing on and there’s no performance advantage gained whatsoever,” he added.
“But this has been happening to me for years and I’m not surprised really – it’s just sour grapes.”
A statement from the NW200 organisers said: "The results of both the Milltown Service Station and JM Paterson Supertwin races have been amended following the exclusion of Richard Cooper’s JMC Roofing Kawasaki because of a modification to the machine’s frame which is deemed to be against the rules by the stewards of the meeting.
"They have excluded the machine from the results which means Richard Cooper is now disqualified as the winner of both races.
"Pierre Yves Bian (VAS Engine Racing Paton) and Joe Loughlin (ILR/Coverdale Paton) are now the race winners."
Wonder what the full story is?
Blundering about trying not to make too much of a hash of things.
Richard Cooper has been excluded from the results of the Supertwin races at the North West 200 due to a technical infringement.
The 39-year-old had won both races on the Ryan Farquhar-prepared J McC Roofing Kawasaki by a wide margin, but his disqualification means Frenchman Pierre Yves Bian (VAS Paton) is the winner of race one, with Joe Loughlin from Castleblayney declared the winner of race two.
Prior to the disqualification, Farquhar revealed that a protest had been submitted over a technical infringement.
He said: “A protest has been put in over a technicality to do with a fairing bracket.
“I fought my corner because you’re allowed to change the bracket, and it was done for safety. They weren’t going to let Richard out in that race and said he had been disqualified, but I put an appeal in against it and that’s where we are at the moment.
“The bike went through scrutineering all week and it’s visible for everyone to see – it’s only a bracket holding the fairing on and there’s no performance advantage gained whatsoever,” he added.
“But this has been happening to me for years and I’m not surprised really – it’s just sour grapes.”
A statement from the NW200 organisers said: "The results of both the Milltown Service Station and JM Paterson Supertwin races have been amended following the exclusion of Richard Cooper’s JMC Roofing Kawasaki because of a modification to the machine’s frame which is deemed to be against the rules by the stewards of the meeting.
"They have excluded the machine from the results which means Richard Cooper is now disqualified as the winner of both races.
"Pierre Yves Bian (VAS Engine Racing Paton) and Joe Loughlin (ILR/Coverdale Paton) are now the race winners."
Wonder what the full story is?
Wonder who it was that protested it, unbelievable that you can get disqualified for a bracket. I feel sorry for Coops and even though I think Farquhar is a bellend it’s a bit extreme. I get the whole rules are rules but when you don’t gain anything from it then what’s the issue, the bike had passed scrutineering all week.
Just found out who made the protest. It was the team and not the rider, but as usual the rider is getting dogs abuse via social media probably headed up by Farquhar, he really is a horrible cunt. The rider for the team that lodged the protest is someone I like so I’m saying fuck all more about it.
Skub wrote: ↑Sun May 15, 2022 8:29 pm
Believe it or not,there are folk who'd go out of their way to give Cryin' Ryan a hard time.
I like him,he has balls and has put a lot back into the sport,but he does 'rub' folk at times.
I agree with the bike side of things. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again on the bike he was awesome but on social media and that he’s a total fuckwit.
wull wrote: ↑Sun May 15, 2022 8:30 pm
Just found out who made the protest. It was the team and not the rider, but as usual the rider is getting dogs abuse via social media probably headed up by Farquhar, he really is a horrible cunt. The rider for the team that lodged the protest is someone I like so I’m saying fuck all more about it.
wull wrote: ↑Sun May 15, 2022 11:54 am
Was it not a bad batch? As oppose to design?
Who's to say? That's what Dunlop obviously will say. But would you want to find out at 180mph at the TT?
Well my thinking is these tyres are tested extensively to deal with all types of scenarios and probably coped as they should. But a bad batch will fail no matter what, so chances are it’s simply a bad batch.
I can understand having to regain confidence in them again but there’s no way Dunlop make shit tyres.
Some of the track surface of the circuit is in pretty shit condition, I wouldn't be surprised if it contributed to the tyre problems.
Just caught up with all the Saturday racing on iplayer. It shows Hickys tyre breaking up and Davy Todd's front not looking pretty. Seems to have been a very successful meeting though, despite the tyre failings.
Again it seems there's very little difference between the Superbike and Superstock except the price and supertwins doing 165 + .
Looking forward to see how Glen Irwin gets on in a couple of weeks.
Skub wrote: ↑Thu May 12, 2022 7:47 pm
Three more riders have opted out of the Superstock race due to the wet conditions - Michael Dunlop, Michael Sweeney and John McGuinness.
Edit. I'll leave you to it Wull.
It undoubtedly did Boothy a favour but hats off to the boy, that's not bad for the first time there on a shoestring eh- and on a proper 1980s club-racer diet too
It undoubtedly did Boothy a favour but hats off to the boy, that's not bad for the first time there on a shoestring eh- and on a proper 1980s club-racer diet too
He was the guest on this weeks Chasin the racin podcast,another good listen
