Richard Cooper targets 1000cc return at 2026 North West 200 with SMS/Nicholl Oils BMW

Motorcyclist Richard Cooper

Seven-time Briggs Equipment North West 200 winner Richard Cooper is set to make a high-profile return to 1000cc competition at this year’s event, confirming a late deal to ride for the SMS/Nicholl Oils team during Race Week from May 4–9.

The 43-year-old, already one of the most decorated riders on the Triangle circuit, will contest the Amici Ristorante and CP Hire sponsored Superstock races on both Thursday and Saturday aboard a BMW M1000RR, adding fresh intrigue to one of the meeting’s most competitive classes.

Cooper’s return to the litre-bike category brings proven pedigree back into the mix. A two-time British Superstock champion, he has consistently demonstrated his strength in the class, including an immediate impact on his North West 200 debut in 2019 when he finished runner-up.

His re-entry this year comes alongside a packed schedule, with the Nottingham rider also competing in the Supersport and Supertwin/Sportbike categories.

The move represents a significant late addition to the grid, with Cooper revealing the deal came together only recently after an initial test outing left him encouraged by the machine’s potential.

Speaking about the switch, he said:

“It’s a real late deal. I had a run out on the bike a few weeks ago and I was pretty comfortable. We are going to take it step by step and hopefully be there when it counts.”

That measured approach reflects both the challenge of stepping back into the ultra-competitive 1000cc field and the opportunity presented by joining a team with recent form.

The SMS/Nicholl Oils outfit arrives at the 2026 event off the back of a strong British Superstock Championship campaign, having finished second overall last year with David Allingham in the saddle—an indicator of the bike’s capability and the team’s technical strength.

Race organisers have also underlined the significance of Cooper’s return to the premier capacity class, pointing to his long-standing impact on the event.

North West 200 race director Mervyn Whyte highlighted the rider’s consistency and competitiveness on the demanding Triangle circuit, noting that from his earliest appearances Cooper has been a front-running contender, regularly challenging the sport’s top road racers.

Whyte added that Cooper’s presence in the Superstock races, combined with his entries across multiple classes, strengthens the overall depth of the 2026 line-up and adds further excitement for spectators ahead of Race Week.

The announcement adds another layer to what is shaping up to be a fiercely contested North West 200, with experienced campaigners and emerging challengers set to battle across the programme.

For Cooper, the return to 1000cc machinery represents both a renewed challenge and a chance to build on a record that has already cemented his status as one of the event’s standout competitors.

With limited preparation time but a proven ability to adapt quickly, attention will now turn to how effectively he can translate early comfort on the BMW into race-winning pace when the action gets underway on the North Coast.

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At a glance

• Richard Cooper will race in the Superstock class at the 2026 North West 200

• The seven-time NW200 winner joins SMS/Nicholl Oils on a BMW M1000RR

• He will compete in races on Thursday and Saturday during May 4–9 Race Week

• Deal described as a “real late” agreement following recent test ride

• Cooper is a two-time British Superstock champion

• He finished runner-up in Superstock on his NW200 debut in 2019

• SMS/Nicholl Oils team finished second in the 2025 British Superstock Championship

• Cooper will also race in Supersport and Supertwin/Sportbike classes

• Race director Mervyn Whyte says his return boosts competition on the grid