Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing Yamaha Racing Team 2023
Dean Harrison and Richard Cooper will join forces on a pair of Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing YZF R6 Yamahas in pursuit of Supersport glory at this year’s fonaCAB and Nicholl Oils North West 200 on May 7-13.
The Northern Ireland-based team is run by Alister Russell of Glenavy and backed by the Portadown-based engineering firm.
Richard Cooper
“I rode a BPE Yamaha for the first time at the final round of the British Championship at Brands Hatch, finishing second and third. Then I took two wins on the R6 at the Sunflower meeting, and I knew the bike was business. At Brands, I’m running ahead with Lee Johnston, who is winning the TTs and North West 200 races, so I think I can afford to do the same in the North West now. I had a great week at the North West 200 last year, probably the best week of my racing life and the event is now at the top of my calendar. Last year was only my third time going there but I enjoyed the challenge of riding a variety of bikes in wet and dry conditions.”
Both Cooper, who became the fastest NW200 newcomer in 2019, and Harrison were both podium finishers at last year’s North West with Harrison coming second in the CP Hire Superstock race and Cooper taking third. in both the Turkington Superstock and Anchor Bar Superbike races before taking the excellent runner-up in the Merrow Hotel Superbike event.
The Nottingham man won’t compete at the Isle of Man TT but Harrison will ride the BPE Yamaha at both the NW200 and TT.
The Bradford rider was on the podium of both Supersport TTs last season and is on the lookout for a new 600cc machine for 2023 after the DAO Racing Kawasaki team he has ridden for recent seasons. here withdraw from this year’s Supersport class.
Dean Harrison
“I rode a BPE Yamaha during a test at Cartagena in Spain and did the fastest 600c ever on it. The R6 doesn’t move as much as the Kawasaki and in theory it should be faster, which should give it an advantage.”
Securing the signatures of top street star Harrison and former British Superstock champion Cooper is a major coup for Alister Russell, who has served as crew chief for Keith Amor, Cameron Donald, Guy Martin and William The late Dunlop. Last season was his first season as team principal, running Ian Hutchinson in the British Supersport championship alongside matches in the North West 200 and TT.
Alister Russel
“It’s been a positive start for the new team with Ian and we hope to continue building that into 2023 with Dean and Richard on the roads and short stretches. It’s great to have two top class riders, both proven winners, taking part in 2023. Richard demonstrated Yamaha’s potential in the final round of the British Supersport championship at Brands and with Dean joining him on the team, we now have two riders who will be fighting for the podium this year. It’s important to have a team with riders of this caliber. We will be doing select rounds of the British championship and this time there will be more races than last year.”
