Cooper to ride BMW Superstock for NI team at NW200

Richard Cooper will ride a BMW in the Superstock class for the SMS/Nicholl Oils team at next week's North West 200. The Nottingham rider, a two-time British Superstock champion, is also competing on an R9 Yamaha for the Russell Racing team in the Supersport class and a Suzuki GSX8R for the Powerslide Suzuki team in the Supertwins events. Northern Ireland rider David Allingham rides for the SMS/Nicholl Oils outfit in the British championship, the Eglinton rider having finished second in the championship in the team's colours last season.

Cooper is a seven-time victor at the North West and has also racked up 17 podiums at the meeting since making his debut in 2019. "It's a real late deal. I've been in contact with David quite a bit and he'd asked me a few times to ride the bike and circumstances weren't in the position to do so but this year a few things have changed and a few things have fallen into place," the 43-year-old told BBC Sport NI.

"I had a run out on the bike a few weeks ago and I was pretty comfortable, a few things I wanted to get over the line before I committed to the deal but now I'm looking forward to what's coming. "We are going to take it step-by-step and hopefully be there when it counts. " Cooper raced a Suzuki Superstock machine on his first appearance at the North West and last competed in the class in 2022.