Richard Cooper stole the spotlight in Wednesday's first qualifying session for the North West 200, mastering tricky weather conditions to top the timesheets in both the Superbike and Supersport classes at the iconic Triangle circuit on Northern Ireland's north coast.
The Nottingham rider showed exceptional adaptability during a session marked by sunshine and showers, posting the fastest average lap speeds in two of the most competitive categories. Aboard the SMS/Nicholl Oils BMW—a bike he secured in a last-minute deal just before the event—Cooper clocked an impressive 110.843mph in the premier Superbike class, finishing with a lap time of 4 minutes 51.332 seconds.
However, the changeable conditions made for a challenging day on track. Cooper's time was nearly 35 seconds slower than the class lap record of 125.779mph set by Glenn Irwin in 2024, a stark reminder of how weather can level the playing field even for the most seasoned riders. "I managed to get a couple of laps in the relative dry. The bike is new for me, so every lap is important," Cooper said after the hour-long session.
Local favorite Paul Jordan claimed second on the Superbike leaderboard at 109.859mph, followed closely by Honda Racing's Dean Harrison at 109.626mph. Irwin, Peter Hickman, and Mike Browne rounded out the top six, setting the stage for a thrilling Thursday qualifying session.
Cooper wasn't done yet. He quickly followed up his Superbike success by dominating the Supersport category on his next-generation Yamaha R9, posting a blistering 111.016mph with a time of 4 minutes 50.877 seconds. With two previous Supersport victories at the North West 200 and podium finishes in the last six editions of the middleweight class, Cooper is proving why he's a seven-time winner at this legendary road racing event.
Veteran Jeremy McWilliams, at 62 years old, reminded everyone why experience matters. Riding a CD Racing Kawasaki he secured just days before the meeting, McWilliams used every ounce of his racing wisdom to claim second fastest in Supersport at 109.214mph, securing a provisional front-row spot. Harrison, Hickman, Alastair Seeley, and Ian Hutchinson followed close behind.
In the Superstock class, high-profile newcomer Storm Stacey led the speeds for much of the slightly shortened session, ultimately finishing third at 107.870mph. But it was Australian Josh Brookes who came out on top, posting 109.41mph to lead the field and prove that experience often wins the day.
With Thursday's second qualifying session on the horizon, the North West 200 is shaping up to be a must-watch event for road racing fans everywhere.