Richard Cooper dominated in wet conditions to record his debut Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup victory, in a reduced 10 lap race at Snetterton.
Sean Emmett stole the holeshot as pole-sitter Sam Warren spun up on the start dropping back through the field to 9th at the end of the opening lap. A mistake by Emmett, in tricky conditions under brakes for the Esses, saw the veteran Superbike rider run deep allowing Cooper through for the lead. Crossing the finish line for the first time, Cooper had eked out a 1.7s lead on the chasing pack.
Sam Warren, slipped and backed the Mission Racing Yamaha through the pack to run hot on the heels of third placed Ben Wilson by lap 4, stealing the final podium spot on the next lap from the Boston based Wilson.
Jack Kennedy shone through the rain clouds, passing Wilson and hunting down Warren as the pair closed the gap on Marty Nutt, lying second on the track. Heading into the final lap it looked as if Nutt had calculated the distances correctly However, the Irishman had not banked on the determination of Warren and Kennedy, who barged through at the Russell Chicane to claim second and third respectively.
Championship leader, Jon Kirkham missed his opportunity to wrap up the Spring Cup one round early and will now have to wait until round six at Mallory Park over the weekend of 28/29 July.
The riders will now take a break from the Championship action to showcase the series in a double header at the British Moto GP, next weekend, at Donington Park. The riders will line up for both races on Qualifying day (Saturday 21 June) to entertain the crowds.
Jack Kennedy: "It was fairly hairy out there, I was trying to put in consistent laps but as the track got dryer and the back tyre got hotter it became more difficult. I was chasing Sam and saw an opportunity right at the end there through the chicane. I got good drive out of it and chased Sam down to the line which pulled me up to third ahead of Marty."
Sam Warren: "I got a terrible start and ended up about 12th on the first lap. I just got my head down and got on with the job ahead.I managed to get into third and second was in my mind but Richard had ridden a great race for the win and he was too far ahead to catch. It was definitely a tricky conditions with the wet tyres on a drying track. I'd like to thank all my sponsors who enable me to be here competing in the cup."
Richard Cooper: "I'd already ridden the KTM race yesterday in similar conditions and I won that by eight seconds so I knew that I could go well again today. It's great to take the win on a day like this, this time we were the last race of the day so it's made the wait worth while! I'd like to thank my team and quote Pete Bradshaw of Co-ordit racing who had offered me the ride for the remainder of the year if I finished in the top 5! It looks like you'll be seeing me again for some more great racing."
Rob McElnea, Team Principal: "Another great show, this is what the Henderson R1 Cup is all about. It's given us another great race with some different podium finishers. Sam continues to impress and Jack Kennedy put in a stunning ride to steal third. Richard Cooper had that away, another winner to mix the championship up a bit. The series is proving to be a great racing platform for riders from all different abilities and backgrounds, some with limited track time, yet they are all still competitive alongside the riders who are competing in a few different championships."
Race Result:1. Cooper
2. Warren
3. J Kennedy
4. Nutt
5. B.Wilson
6. Mason
7. Coates
8. Kirkham
9. Etheridge
10. R.Kennedy
Championship Points:1. Kirkham - 94
2 - Warren - 76
3. Wilson - 67
4 - Emmett - 64
5. Mason - 59
