PHR Performance Triumph Racing’s Richard Cooper has been presented by Triumph Motorcycles with his championship-winning Daytona 660 and inducted into the Triumph Avenue of Legends at its headquarters in Hinckley, UK.
This is a press release from Triumph Motorcycles…
The British manufacturer has honored Cooper with a commemorative stone plaque on Triumph’s Avenue of Legends at its global headquarters and Factory Visitor Experience to celebrate his 2024 National Sportbike series win.
“Coopes” has been known as a formidable contender in the national championships for a number of years. In 2024, the racer from Nottingham worked closely with Triumph and Peter Hickman’s PHR Performance to develop the sportbike kit for the then-recently launched Daytona 660, to race in the new national championship that runs alongside the British Superbike series. Fending off some tough competition throughout the season, with Richard and his archrival taking 11 of the 13 race wins by the end of the penultimate round, Coopes overturned a points deficit at the season finale with a win and a third place to sensationally clinch the title.
When he took a break from his day job to visit the factory during his lunchbreak, Richard had no idea that a ceremony was about to happen. With all his PHR Performance Triumph Racing team at the Triumph Factory to celebrate the occasion, the racer was presented with his championship-winning Daytona 660 Sportbike by Triumph Motorcycles Chief Product Officer Steve Sargent. Walking down the Avenue of Legends, outside Triumph’s Factory Visitor Experience, where his name will be added, he was able to reflect on his successes over the previous season and his career. His name will join the very best of Triumph’s pioneers, engineers and racers, that have made the motorcycle brand what it is today.
“Honestly, I was quite overwhelmed by the whole situation,” said Cooper. “Obviously the PHR team had asked me to go along to the Triumph factory, and I wasn’t sure what was happening at the time. I turned up in my work clothes, thinking there was just a quick tour of the factory or something. Unbeknown to me, halfway around the factory tour there was my championship bike waiting for me. We had an amazing year as the first year as a Triumph factory-supported effort. The boys at PHR did an amazing job, Steve Sargent at Triumph believed in me, and I guess I delivered a result that we all were aiming for. It wasn’t easy, the championship came down to the last round, the last race, almost to the last lap to clinch it. I feel very privileged to have been part of the project from the start. I’m still involved now, but not in the same way, as I’m now moving into a team manager role with PHR for the next young rider to compete in the series, which is a full circle moment I guess.”
It was a poignant day for Richard, who has announced that he will not contest any full series going forwards. In addition to taking part in select tests and races, Coopes will assume a team manager role for PHR Performance in 2025, using his years of experience to guide the next generation of racing talent.
Click here for more Press Releases on Cycle News.
