MOTOR CYCLING: Dan Cooper picks up prestigious Joe Craig Trophy (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cooper enjoys best ever Isle Of Man TT week

6:19pm Sunday 10th June 2012 in Sport

DAN COOPER and the Cornish-based Centurion Racing team were denied the opportunity to race in the 2012 Isle of Man Senior TT on Saturday when the race was cancelled for the first time in its 105-year history.

Despite the setback, the team still left the island having added to their silverware collection.

With heavy rain falling on Friday, the race was moved back to Saturday but the adverse weather conditions continued and the 37.73-mile course failed to dry out.

The organisers were ultimately defeated and called off the race at 5pm.

The cancellation meant that former Cirencester Kingshill pupil Cooper was confirmed in second place overall in the TT Privateers Championship, while in addition to his one silver and three bronze replicas, he also received the prestigious Joe Craig Trophy, awarded to the British rider deemed to have put in the best performance on a British machine.

A career-best tenth place in the second Monster Energy Supersport race ensured he was the clear winner of the award.

Cooper said: “It's a shame the fortnight has ended like this as I was really looking forward to getting back out on the Honda Fireblade again, but rider safety has to be paramount.

“In a way, I'm glad the race was called off as it wouldn't have been easy going out to race after all the delays and also knowing there were damp patches on the course, so the organisers made the right decision.

“I've had a good week, scoring some good results and bettering both my lap times and performances from last year so I'm really happy with how it's all gone.

“And finishing second in the Privateers Championship and picking up the Joe Craig Trophy has been the icing on the cake.

“I'd like to thank the team for all their work during the fortnight, everyone's pulled together and done a great job so we'll start getting ready for next year now."

Centurion Racing team principal Paul Rees said: “It was yet another very successful TT for the team with the goal being a silver replica for Dan in one of the Supersport TT races.

“This prestigious award was what we were really aiming for and managed to get it.”