By “Hopefully, it’s going to be a tough year there’s some fast riders on fast bikes, so we’ll try.”
Chris Cook’s response, when asked about top step of the Manx Grand Prix podium expectations.
Senior race runner-up in 2024 and 2025, the Hawick rider has teamed up with Andy Storey’s STS Racing squad for this year’s MGP, riding 636 Kawasaki apparatus, that he feels has better bottom end, more torque than his own teams’ Kawasaki from last year.
Eighth quickest on Sunday, Cook candidly reacted to opening Supersport practice/qualifying action.
“It was ok, just good to get back out again, didn’t have a very fast lap but just new bike, needed to get out on the new bike and just have a look around the course again.”
Delighted to have STS Racing’s support, the Scottish ace was quick to praise his main mechanic, Kyle.
“Having a proper mechanic, Kyle very, very good at his job, takes a lot of pressure off because it was just me and dad last year.”
Prior to this year’s MGP, Cook made his Briggs Equipment Northwest 200 debut. Whilst the weather lords were not obliging, mechanical teething issues unfolded, he still felt the NW200 tenure was beneficial.
“Northwest was good, we didn’t get much track time there unfortunately with bad weather and we had a little gear box issue, silly little mechanical thing but the bike was good at the Northwest.”
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
