30 year old Chris from Chesterfield in Derbyshire is a regular at both Darley Moor and East Midlands Racing Association (EMRA), this year he was preparing for a full out assault on the No Limits Racing (NLR) championship before Covid-19 brought everything to a halt. Always supported by Dad John, Mum Julie and his number 1 fan son Lucas 'Coops' has been getting quicker and quicker whenever he goes out on circuit and in 2019 cracked the 1 minute mark around Darley Moor. Unfortunately mechanical issues forced him out of a trackday earlier in the year which would have seen him take the big Suzuki to Oulton Park for the first time, the ensuing Coronavirus lockdown has seen Chris able to set the bike up at a more relaxed pace that now has the machine absolutely singing and ready for action while Chris himself has been hitting his fitness levels hard to make sure that he and the bike get the very best out of each other as soon as racing is possible.
You can follow Chris and his racing adventures on his dedicated Facebook Page Coops Racing and get in touch with him at coopsracing25@gmail.com
Q1 - Race number? Usually 25 but using 125 in 2020 as someone with NLR already had 25!
Q2 - Club / Championship? EMRA, Darley Moor and this year NLR.
Q3 - Class / Classes? Open, Allcomers and Rookies.
Q4 - Debut? August 2018 at Darley Moor.
Q5 - Honours / Titles? Darley Moor Newcomers race winner and a number of top ten finishes.
Q6 - Favourite Circuit and Favourite Corner? Of the few circuits I've raced or done trackdays at I'd say Gerrards at Mallory Park is up there as well as Hall Bends at Cadwell Park.
Q7 - Boyhood heroes? McPint, Hickman and love watching Coops (Richard Cooper) at Darley.
Q8 - Toughest rival? Being honest I don't have rivals, the guys in front I'm learning from and the guys behind I'm not interested in haha!
Q9 - If I could swap places with any other rider? Anyone in the British Superbike paddock.
Q10 - Biggest accident? Townleys at Darley Moor, Good Friday 2019. The oil filter failed and spat oil under my wheels, into the wall I went at 100mph+
Q11 - Biggest influence on your career so far? Well I blame Andy Taylor (Spud) #9 for the charity trackday where it all started.
Q12 - Rossi or Marquez? Rossi.
Q12a - If I wasn't racing I would be? Still riding on the road and probably working, nothing special.
Q14 - Nickname? Coops.
Q15 - If money were no object I would? Be the owner of a 2020 GSXR, a race truck and be doing as many rounds as possible.
Q16 - Brown or Red sauce, Coke or Pepsi? Brown and if I had to choose Pepsi.
Q17 - If I could be one person for one day I would be? Peter Hickman or McPint on a TT lap.
Q18 - Cost to race per season? This varies from what season any rider has but they are all f**k**g expensive!
Q19 - Dream bike? BMW HP4 Carbon Race.
Q20 - Training regime (Gym rat or bike fit)? Never done either although since there's no racing I have been getting out on the mountain bike (when I can stay on the bloody things) and I also use BH Fitness one of my very loyal group of sponsors.
Q21 - Dogs or Cats? Dogs.
Q22 - From October to March I can be found doing? Mountain bike or working stupid hours!
Q23 - Dry track, wet track or not fussed? Not fussed.
Q24 - Best ever race? Newcomers race win at Darley Moor had got to be the highlight but every time I'm racing is the best race, the feeling, the buzz and the racing family.
Q25 - Special thanks to? All my amazing sponsors;
Mainstream Foods.
HCD Cleaning.
Parkitt Performance Motorcycle Racing.
Emma and Ian.
BH Fitness.
My Moto Derbyshire.
Fastrac MOT Centre.
Pennant Electrical.
BodyMotorWorks.com
SLVC - Storforth Lane Valeting Centre.
Chesterfield Car Consultants - Dave Muxlow.
All the other racers, medics, marshals, photographers and anyone else involved in supporting me with my racing or making it all possible for us to race.
That's it from Chris who no doubt is chomping at the bit to get the season underway and wherever possible I'll be hoping to catch it on camera and hopefully share a beer or two in the evening.
The final participant in what has been a really interesting project to work on was also the very first to have a decal on his visor for me as he came agonisingly close to becoming champion for 2 years on the run and that is our 2nd professor of motorsport Richie Harrison.