By First ran in 1962, when under the Ted Andrew Trophy title, the Bob Smith Spring Cup feature race has-been captured by elite names ranging from Joey Dunlop to Dave Leach to David Jefferies to John McGuinness MBE to Adrian Archibald to Ryan Farquhar to Guy Martin to Dean Harrison.
Impeccable Scarborough racing debutant Richard Cooper, added his name this afternoon to the Spring Cup winners list, emerging on top from a six-lap encounter held in wet conditions.
Cooper the thirty first different Spring Cup winner, gave suitors Boyce Precision Engineering/Russell Racing their second consecutive blue-riband race triumph at the traditional season opening Oliver’s Mount meeting after Michael Browne’s victory in 2024.
The new quickest North Yorkshire ‘Mini TT’ newcomer of this decade, path to success was-made clearer when early race leader Franco Bourne (Team ILR with Frog Vehicle Developments) crashed out at Drurys Hairpin on lap three (the prospective TT newcomer emerged unharmed).
With Bourne side-lined, R9 Yamaha equipped Cooper inherited a huge advantage over nearest pursuers Rob Hodson (SMT Racing – V2 Panigale Ducati) and Galashiels Johnny Stewart.
Cooper’s final race winning gap to eventual second place finisher Hodson, stood at just inside 6.13 seconds (6.128 to be exact).
Stewart who remarked post-race to circuit commentator Brad Hix that “conditions were sketchy” was super happy to finish third.
Tom Weeden, lap on lap getting more at home with his new 765 RS Triumph placed fourth (0.158 behind Stewart).
Fostec Engineering supported David McArthur took fifth, final Supersport (A) race winner Andy Smart (VRS Racing) occupied sixth.
Lead Super Twins vaulted rider Stephen Gorton finished seventh with Sam Johnson (P8), Barry Furber (P9), Rhys Hardisty (P10) wrapping up the leader board top ten.
Five more racers took the chequered flag, Joey Lambden (P11), Jack Worth (P12), Adam ‘Chad’ Child aboard the rasping CF Moto (P13), Michael Allen (P14) and Aaron Cooke (P15).
MadBros Racing’s Gary McCoy, Marcus ‘Spartacus’ Simpson, Conor Cummins (NLC Suzuki), Ryan Dixon (Trickbits Racing Triumph) were notable non-starters.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
