By Boosted by profitable test session outings at Calafat, Castle Coombe, Donington Park and Oulton Park where he completed 66 laps in total, four times TT Privateers Champion is prominently enthused about suitors, KTS Racing’s new machinery addition, M1000RR BMW equipment, previously piloted within TT 2024 by Josh Brookes.
Speaking recently, Coward now factory Triumph supported for Supersport race endeavours, stated:
“The bike’s fast but a lot easier to ride than my previous bikes although experimenting with the split throttle bodies bamboozled me a bit! The whole bike suits me a lot better though. The BMW’s quite a big bike but for a bigger rider like me that’s ideal.
The bike’s been developed around Toprak Razgatlioglu and Michael van der Mark in the World Superbike Championship and Peter (Hickman) has also had input and they’re all tall riders. The Honda was small and compact which made it difficult for me to get properly tucked in but that’s not the case with the BMW.
I’ve been bettering my previous best lap times at all the circuits and that’s optimally good for the confidence. The BMW’s power is very user-friendly and it’s more stable in the mid-range whilst it’s similar in those aspects to my factory Triumph which is making it a lot easier to switch from one machine to another.”
Hebden Bridge’s Coward who first joined the TT rider ranks in 2013 and has since established himself as one of the TT’s quickest, most improved competitors, added:
“The bike was very stable over the bumps at Castle Combe and held a tight line well, so the whole package is just suiting me better. It was a similar story at Donington where I bettered my previous personal best in just the second session.
Everywhere we’ve gone, I’ve gone well and gone faster so I’m really looking forward to the TT now.
The fact I’m feeling so comfortable on the bike is allowing me to concentrate on myself and the aim this year will be the same as previous year’s, to improve on every bike and go quicker on every bike.”
Before TT 2025, Coward next month returns to the Briggs Equipment Northwest 200, which he last took participated at in 2022.
Quotes courtesy of TT Races press team.
Photo courtesy of TT Races press team.
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
