Ruben Xaus has been advised by his doctors not to race this coming weekend, so the team are giving a chance to young Briton Richard Cooper to ride with Troy Corser.
Twenty-six year old Richard has been racing in the British Superstock 1000 Championship this season, but also had a one-off British Superbike ride at Mallory Park, when he finished a superb 5th after leading the race for three laps. He is no stranger to BMW, having raced the BMW HP2 Sport in the World Endurance Championship last year and has also been a regular competitor in the BMW Boxer Cup. He tested the S 1000 RR racebike at the Eurospeedway Lausitz recently, but the NÌ_rburgring will be his first ever WSBK race.
"It‰Ûªs a great honour to be asked by the team to ride in place of Ruben and I will do my very best for sure," Cooper said. "This ride is like a dream come true, but I am under no illusions about the massive task waiting for me this weekend. I have never raced at the Nurburgring before, but at least I have tested the S 1000 RR racebike, so I have some knowledge of it before going out for my first laps.
"My first impressions of the bike were very good and I was surprised and pleased how smooth it felt and how good the power delivery was. I will be under no pressure from the team this weekend and all they want me to do is ride the bike and try and enjoy the experience.
Ruben and I are very different physically - I am a lot shorter and weigh a lot less - so my first job is to get the bike set up for me. It‰Ûªs not nice stepping into somebody else‰Ûªs shoes, and I wish Ruben a speedy recovery, but this is a great opportunity for me and I will be giving it my best shot," Cooper added.
Corser is looking foward to a circuit that has treated him kindly in the past. "I like the Nurburgring and it has been a good circuit for me in the past and, after a recent tests and the race in Brno in the last round, I am really looking forward to this coming weekend," Corser enthused.
"There is going to be a lot of interest and attention on us this weekend because it is the team‰Ûªs ‰Û÷home‰Ûª race and all of us want to do well for our fans and our sponsors.
"It is a shame that Ruben cannot race this weekend but I‰Ûªm sure that the right decision has been made. It‰Ûªs far better for him to return when he is stronger and fitter. I‰Ûªm happy that Richard is stepping in this weekend for Ruben. I have met him a few times, especially at Brands Hatch recently. He‰Ûªs young, fast and good prospect for the future and I‰Ûªm sure he‰Ûªll do a good job for the team. I‰Ûªll give him whatever helps he needs and although he‰Ûªs young (and looks even younger!) he‰Ûªs pretty experienced already, so maybe he won‰Ûªt need it!"
Xaus says he will take the sennsible route and follow doctors advice. "I saw my specialist today (Monday) and he advised me not to race and, for once in my life, I am going to be sensible and do what a doctor says! It was always going to be difficult getting fit enough to race at the ‰Û÷Ring and although my physio and rehabilitation has been going better than expected, I think the decision not to race is the right one," Xaus explained.
"I didn‰Ûªt want to come to the Nurburgring and ride at only 80%. I am still on crutches at the moment and cannot put my full body weight on my right leg, so it is better that I sit this one out because I will then have another three weeks and be much stronger for the Imola race at the end of September. It would've been a disaster, if I raced this weekend and did some more damage, but I shall miss getting on the bike for sure - especially as it is the team‰Ûªs ‰Û÷home‰Ûª race. I would like to wish the team all the best this weekend and hope that Richard does well and enjoys himself."
Main Photo: Ruben in the medical centre, Brno, before transfer to Barcelona
Credit: BMW - Kel Edge
