A regular collector of high quality results at Oliver’s Mount and of course reigning Lightweight Manx GP champion, Preston’s Darren Cooper is the next rider to take on Road Racing News, ten questions challenge.
Planning to compete at TT 2018, his answers to the popular series of questions, are as follows.
Q1: Favourite National Roads Meeting?
“Scarborough Gold Cup, great circuit, lots of friends there and the competition is top notch.”
Q2: Favourite Racing Bike?
“Probably my ER6 Super Twin. After riding and racing it for the first time at Aintree and surprisingly finishing second on it I was shocked on how well it handled, and you can really ride them hard and feel in control, they are very rewarding to ride fast.”
Q3: What’s the best part of competing on the roads?
“The fans respect for what you do and the sheer exhilaration for racing between the walls and trees, racing at Skerries for the first time last year was just magical.”
Q4: TT, North West 200 or Ulster Grand Prix?
“Ah I can’t choose, TT for the spectacle and the Ulster GP for the ride!”
Q5: Most Respected Rival?
“Paul Owen however we don’t race each other anymore, but I remember beating him for the first time at Scarborough I was elated, he he!
However seriously Barry Lee Evans because he said me ha ha. No it’s the moments I’ve shared on the Manx GP podiums with Barry and he’s a great lad in fact so is his dad John, lovely fella.!”
Q6: Best roads moment thus far?
“Finishing 2nd in the 2017 Junior Manx GP then going out an hour later in the Lightweight Manx GP, and Winning it, best day ever, erm apart from my wedding day of course!”
Q7: Is their one place or country in the world, where you would like to see a roads meeting held?
“Longton Village near me, I’ve already done a few laps in the van, me and Mutley in the pub have already planned where we’d put the paddock and start line.”
Q8: Who’s your road racing hero?
“Carl Fogarty I reckon, top racer of his time, so committed and he came to my pub to help me celebrate winning the Manx GP ‘off his own bat’.”
Q9: Supersport or Superbike?
“Supersport as I weigh 3 stone wet through, but I’m looking forward to having another swing at a Superbike in the future.”
Q10: Pole position or fastest lap?
“Pole Position as I remember getting my first Pole at Silverstone on a GSXR 1000, when I was 23 on a brand new bike on a circuit I’d never been too, I still bore people with that tale to this day ha ha!”
Words by Stevie Rial