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Buildbase BMW Motorrad wrap up 2011 season with Superstock 1000 title and third in BSB-EVO

Richard Cooper was presented with the 2011 Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship trophy today in front of the Brands Hatch crowds at the final race weekend of the year. BSB-EVO rider Barry Burrell secured third place in the series with two podium finishes at an incident-heavy Brands Hatch.

Cooper secured the Superstock 1000 title two weeks ago at Silverstone where he extended his lead to 46.5 points - guaranteeing him the championship whatever the outcome of the final race. However, today's race was red-flagged after just two laps due to several crashes.

Due to a lack of time, and an already delayed schedule due to a red-flagged Superstock 600 event, race control made the decision to cancel the race. The series organisers applied the scores as they stood after Silverstone, subsequently declaring Cooper the 2011 title.

Cooper's championship victory is his first - and the second consecutive Metzeler National Superstock 1000 title for BMW Motorrad. BMW S 1000 RR rider Luke Quigley finished third in the highly competitive championship.

Richard Cooper said: "Well it's very frustrating for me and the team not to be able to race today, I had hoped to give them another great finish and end the year on a high. In fact we almost did the opposite! I had a crash very early on, before the race was red flagged. But I'm unhurt and I'm still the 2011 Superstock 1000 Champion! I can't thank the team, the supporters, BMW Motorrad and my family and friends enough for helping me take my first title. Thank you all."

Barry Burrell, on the team’s BSB-EVO bike, delivered an incredible second place finish in the final BSB-EVO race of the year and secured third place in the series. An incident in the day’s first BSB-EVO race forced Burrell to crash out after a rider came off immediately in front of him. As a result he started towards the back of the grid. However Barry fought back with a stunning ride which saw him take his second podium finish of the weekend and finish in the top three in the championship standings.

Barry Burrell said: "I'm delighted to have finished the final weekend of the year with two podiums. The crash in the second race was unfortunate, but unavoidable. The rider in front came off and left me nowhere to go. It's a shame as it's the first race all year I've not finished, but the two podiums and the third place in the BSB-EVO series more than make up for it!"

Stuart Hicken, team principal, said: "Well it's been a tough weekend and an equally tough year. But we've taken the Superstock 1000 title, taken third place in the BSB-EVO series and a very good number of race wins, podium finishes and lap records along the way. Our team have worked hard and I'm very proud of them. And I'm very excited about what 2012 will have in store for us."

2011 Superstock 1000 Champion Richard Cooper to ride Buildbase BMW Motorrad’s BSB bike at Brands.  

Richard Cooper, who wrapped up the 2011 Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship at Silverstone two weeks ago, will be competing in both the Superstock 1000 and British Superbike races at this weekend's season finale at Brands Hatch.

The Nottinghamshire rider holds an unassailable 46.5-point lead in the highly competitive production-based series, enough to secure his first title victory - and the second consecutive Superstock 1000 title for BMW Motorrad's S 1000 RR. Cooper will be riding both his Superstock 1000 S 1000 RR and the team's second BSB-spec bike.

Celebrations of the victory were cut short, however, as the Buildbase BMW Motorrad team's compound was broken into on the evening after the race, with thieves stealing a support van, Richard's Superstock machine, a BSB-spec S 1000 RR and tens of thousands of pounds of tools and race parts. However, the two race bikes have been recovered intact - spotted hidden in a road-side field by an eagle-eyed BMW-riding member of the public

Stuart Hicken, team principal, said: "First of all, I have to thank Martin Quigley for discovering our missing bikes. His vigilance means we're able to race at the final round of the season and allow Richard to hopefully finish his year in style. Richard's hard work and consistency this year will be rewarded with the chance to compete in British Superbikes, and Martin and his wife will be the welcome guests of the team at the race.

"Both Richard and Barry Burrell spent the weekend racing at the Stars of Darley Moor event where they finished ahead of John McGuinness, Luke Stapleford, Keith Amor and Ian Lougher. Richard won both races on the BSB-spec bike he'll be running this weekend, providing some very setup time and on-track experience. Barry finished second in both races on his EVO-spec machine. In addition, both Richard and Barry broke the lap record and overall race record several times, with Richard eventually setting the fastest lap time of the event.

"We're delighted to be able to compete in the final round and, despite losing much of our equipment and spares to the thieves, thanks to the help and support of our friends in the paddock and the motorcycle industry, Mr Quigley, and the very hard work of the team, we'll be able to finish the season on a high. With Richard Cooper racing in both Superstock and BSB, Barry Burrell aiming for a top-three finish in the BSB-EVO series and Lee Jackson riding our second BSB bike, it's going to be another busy, but hopefully successful, weekend's racing."

Qualifying and the first of the weekend's BSB/BSB-EVO races will be show live on Saturday on British Eurosport 2.

Buildbase BMW Motorrad rider Richard Cooper secures the Superstock 1000 title at Silverstone.

Nottinghamshire rider Richard Cooper has won the 2011 Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship at the penultimate round. Cooper qualified in pole position for the race at Silverstone – a race that he had a 45.5-point lead heading into. Despite a poor start, which saw him drop back to 20th position, Cooper fought his way back through the pack to finish sixth, overtaking 14 riders on his way to the championship victory. With a 46.5-point lead and a maximum of 25 points available from the final round at Brands Hatch, Cooper has secured the title.

Richard Cooper said: “I’m feeling relieved! That was the hardest race of my life and definitely the worst start of my life! But I fought back from 20th to sixth, all the while nervous of braking too hard or opening the throttle too fast. It’s a big result for me and for the Buildbase BMW Motorrad team.

“I’d like to thank BMW Motorrad for giving me the opportunity to ride their S 1000 RR these past two years, for helping me cure my arm pump and helping us win this championship. I look forward to the final round at Brands Hatch where I hope we can round off the season with another podium finish.”

Barry Burrell, the team’s BSB-EVO rider, took a third and fourth place in the day’s two EVO races, which leaves him in third place in the highly competitive series. Lee Jackson, riding the team’s Superbike-spec BMW S 1000 RR, brought his bike home in 23rd and 26th places.

Stuart Hicken, team principal, said: “It’s been a very, very good weekend for us. We’d hoped that Richard and Barry would defend their championship positions – which we’ve achieved – but we’re also leaving with the Superstock 1000 title in the bag. Richard didn’t make it easy, but he delivered the title with a race still to run. We’d like to thank everyone involved for their support with taking Richard’s first ever title and BMW Motorrad’s second consecutive Superstock 1000 title. “

Barry delivered two more impressive results, a third and a fourth, while Lee has improved on his recent finishes, improved his lap times all weekend while also delivering very useful feedback which will prove to be very useful with the ongoing development of our S 1000 RRs.”

The final round of the year, Brands Hatch, takes place in two weeks time.

Click here for previous race meetings and results >