Richard Cooper made a stunning statement at the North West 200's first qualifying session on Wednesday, topping the timesheets in both the Superbike and Supersport classes despite challenging weather conditions on the Triangle circuit.
The 43-year-old Nottingham rider, fresh off a last-minute deal to pilot the SMS/Nicholl Oils BMW, showed remarkable adaptability as sunshine and showers swept across the Northern Ireland coastal track. Cooper posted the fastest average lap speed of 110.843mph in the premier Superbike class, finishing ahead of a competitive field.
His lap time of four minutes 51.332 seconds highlighted just how tricky the conditions were—nearly 35 seconds slower than the class lap record set by Glenn Irwin in 2024. "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.
Northern Ireland's Paul Jordan claimed second on the Superbike leaderboard at 109.859mph, with Honda Racing's Dean Harrison close behind at 109.626mph. The top six was rounded out by Irwin, Peter Hickman, and Mike Browne, setting the stage for an intense battle ahead.
Cooper wasn't done there. He followed up his Superbike heroics by dominating the Supersport category on his next-generation Yamaha R9, clocking 111.016mph with a time of four minutes 50.877 seconds. With two Supersport victories already under his belt and podium finishes in the last six editions of the middleweight class, Cooper is clearly a force to be reckoned with.
Veteran Jeremy McWilliams, at 62 years old, used every bit of his experience to secure second fastest on his CD Racing Kawasaki at 109.214mph, earning a provisional front row spot ahead of Thursday's second qualifying session. The Belfast-born racer only secured his ride days before the event, making his performance all the more impressive. Harrison, Hickman, Alastair Seeley, and Ian Hutchinson completed the Supersport top six.
With qualifying still ongoing and the main races on the horizon, Cooper's early dominance has set the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable North West 200. Whether you're trackside or watching from home, this is road racing at its finest.