2011-06-10 20:55
Dan Cooper from Stroud and the Cornwall-based Centurion Racing Team ended their successful 2011 Isle of Man TT Races campaign today with a superb 24th place finish in the Pokerstars Senior TT and in doing so, Cooper also won his fourth bronze replica of the week and lapped at a new personal best of 122.583mph.
With rain in the North of the Island, the race was delayed by five hours eventually getting underway at 5.15pm in perfect conditions apart for a few damp patches at Ramsey Hairpin, and a solid opening lap of 119.167mph saw Dan lie in 37th place.
Lapping quicker on lap two at 119.459mph, he was able to move up to 33rd place and with a superb pit stop by the team, he’d climbed even higher by mid-race distance to 29th. With 113 miles of racing still to go, a punishing race still lay ahead but lapping close to 120mph on lap four, Dan consolidated his position whilst another good pit stop saw him climb two more places on lap five. However, a quite simply brilliant last lap of 122.583mph meant Dan took the chequered flag after almost two hours of racing in 24th place for his fourth successive bronze replica.
Speaking afterwards, a delighted Dan said; “That was a really tough race especially the last two laps. I thought the tyre was spinning on the rim but it turned out the rear shock had gone so it made it a bit lively towards the end but I’m just delighted to get home. I passed a few riders in the early stages but then had a lonely ride for a couple of laps before passing a couple more towards the end on the run towards Ballagarey and to lap at 122.5mph at the end is simply brilliant. I wanted to do a 120mph plus lap this year so to finally do it is fantastic. I’ve had a brilliant week with the team and to finish every race and pick up four bronze replicas is testament to all the hard work we’ve put in. It’s only my second year at the TT and I’ve loved every minute of it again. I’ve just gone at my own pace without rushing and it’s been pretty much been a mistake-free fortnight. I’m over the moon with the results so a big thanks to everyone in the team for all their hard work.”
Team owner Paul Rees; “The best word I can use to describe the fortnight is mega! I’ve been so impressed with Dan throughout and his professionalism and maturity is to be commended. The Senior race was always going to be tough but Dan just went at his own pace and he was rewarded once more with a great result, a great lap time and another bronze replica. Both bikes have been practically faultless and that’s been down to all the mechanics in the team who have worked so hard each and every day. The main aim when we arrived here was to get Dan out and back safe in every race, we weren’t worried about anything else, but he’s a really smooth rider, aggressive when he wants to be, and he’s just improved each time he went out on to the circuit. We’ve had a great time here so I’d just like to thank everyone involved with the team and we’re already looking forward to TT2012.”
Throughout TT2011, Centurion Racing have shown their support for Help for Heroes, their chosen charity, by displaying H4H logos on the bikes’ new livery designed by Rage Designs and team attire. Dan’s race helmet was kindly donated by Arai and was a one-off design by RichArt showing both the H4H and IOM TT logos. Team Principal Paul Rees, who spent 20 years in Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Commandos, was given permission to have the bikes carry the H4H logos in order to encourage the public to be more aware of this charity that supports our Armed Forces, many of whom are making daily sacrifices in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Centurion Racing would specially like to thank Arai, FTR, GPR Racewear, Dunlop, Rage Designs, RichArt, R2 Logo Print & Embroidery, Akrapovic, Daytona, and Alan Smith of Smiths of Gloucester for personally supporting Dan, and all our friends and followers.
For more information visit the website: www.centurionracing.com (Also on Facebook) or please contact: Paul Rees, paul@centurionsafety.net, mobile: +44 (0)7785 248934 or John Cooper, john@coopers1.orangehome.co.uk, mobile: +44 (0)7584 901191.
Picture attached (copyright free, courtesy of Pacemaker Press International, higher resolution available on request): Dan Cooper at the start of the Senior TT.
Source: Cartersport Motorsport Media
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