Richard Cooper confirmed for debut at Bayview Hotel Armoy Road Races as line-up for 'Race of Legends' announced
Richard Cooper is set to make his debut at the Bayview Hotel Armoy Road Races this weekend.
Cooper will join reigning ‘Race of Legends’ winner Mike Browne in Alister Russell’s team at the Co Antrim road race, which takes place on Friday and Saturday (July 24-25).
Manx rider Nathan Harrison is another leading newcomer who will tackle the undulating three-mile course for the first time.
Nottingham’s Cooper is a seven-time winner at the North West 200 and has won four British titles, including being crowned Superstock 1000 champion twice.
The 43-year-old has been a high-profile newcomer at different road racing events over the past year, with Cooper making a sensational debut at Imatra in Finland last July, winning all four Supersport races on the BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha.
Cooper also raced at Oliver’s Mount in Scarborough for the first time this year at the Bob Smith Spring Cup meeting in April, where he won the feature race.
The addition of the English rider to the line-up at Armoy is a feather in the cap for the Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club.
However, home hero and record 36-time Isle of Man TT winner Michael Dunlop, a hat-trick winner at Walderstown’s ‘Race of the South’ on Sunday in Co Westmeath, is not featured in the official pre-event rider announcement, with fellow former ‘Race of Legends’ winner Davey Todd also undeclared.
Todd was injured in a crash at the Daytona 200 in the USA in March and has not raced since the accident.
Dunlop is a record 10-time winner of the blue riband Legends race at Armoy and made his last appearance at the event in 2023.
A strong entry list includes Jackson Racing’s Paul Jordan, the 2025 Man of the Meeting after he sealed six podiums, including a Supertwin double, and Mullingar’s Derek McGee, who returns to Armoy with the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing team.
Cork man Browne clinched a four-timer last summer and will defend his ‘Race of Legends’ crown, when he will go into the weekend as the favourite for more honours in the Superbike and Supersport classes.
Along with Armoy first-timer Harrison, the Isle of Man is also represented by Conor Cummins, Marcus Simpson and Southern 100 Supersport race winner Joe Yeardsley.
Skerries man Michael Sweeney is a firmly established Irish road racing front-runner who will be a major podium threat, while Dominic Hertbertson arrives fresh from some impressive results at the Southern 100.
Armoy Clerk of the Course William Munnis said he was “delighted” with the calibre of riders who will battle it out for honours at Armoy.
“We’re delighted with the number and calibre of riders joining us this year,” he said. “With returning favourites, newcomers and international teams set to take part, spectators can expect a great weekend of racing.
“We have over 40 newcomers this year, and we have a few races that are oversubscribed but as a club we are really keen to ensure that everyone gets some track time – we are going to run some B races too. Friday will be interesting, it always is, but if we get it right, Saturday should take care of itself.”
Qualifying and racing gets under way on Friday with the main race programme on Saturday, including the ‘Race of Legends’ highlight.