Richard Cooper sweeps away NW200 SuperTwin competitions

2023 Northwest 200

super twin

With Ben McCook

The opening race of the 2023 North West 200 weekend was the first of two Supertwin competitions. The most popular, Richard Cooper won both races in 2022 but was disqualified due to a well-publicized technical violation. This year he is back for revenge.

The competition was scheduled for Thursday night but delays due to red flags in the earlier inaugural Supersport race meant that like last year, it was held until Saturday.

There was a drama going on during the initial race and it looked like Copper had picked the wrong gearshift and was struggling to get to top speed on the long straight. The wind direction has changed since practice and is now blowing in the opposite direction.

Former Moto GP star, 59, Jeremy McWilliams appears to be in control of the Bayview Hotel Paton. But unfortunately for no. 99, a red flag in the early stages due to a major crash at Dhu Varren involving Michael Sweeney means ‘Coops’ will have a second crack, with time to adjust.

With the gearshift now adjusted, the rest will never stand a chance. The Nottingham man toyed with McWilliams, Adam McLean, and Paul Jordan for a while, but halfway through, the baby-faced assassin pulled the pin and left, leaving the locals to sort out the rest of the positions. on the platform between them.

In the end, McWilliams made a fatal attack on Juniper in the final round, going to the gravel and forcing McLean to widen and allow Paul Jordan to sneak past both of them.

McWilliams was dropped from the podium after seemingly being the favorite for winning the first run of the race but McLean was delighted to finally make it into the box after a streak of fourth place in years and a huge success. The promising career has snuffed out. by injuries too often over the years.

Jordan claims he’s ‘happy’ with second place – an improvement in third in 2022.

The second Twins race later in the day followed a similar scenario, and Cooper completed the historic double, however, this time his name will be in the record books.

A four-lap sprint in the second part saw the Nottingham man head at half range and have never headed again since. ‘

McWilliams and McLean have both taken turns taking the lead and contesting the podium in the final two rounds. In the end, Jezza took the podium and McLean won another third. Paul Jordan is next ahead of the previous winners, Stefano Bonetti and Joe Loughlin.

American rookie and three-time runner-up Daytona Cory West took a superb seventh place in his first real road race. A great performance on the JMcC roof bike.

Emmet O-Grady, Jamie Williams and Francesco Curinga made the top 10.

Result 2023 Northwest 200
SuperTwin Race One

Result 2023 Northwest 200
SuperTwin Race Two

Result 2023 Northwest 200
SuperTwin Thursday Qualifier