Podium promotes Cooper in Superstocks title chase

Knox protected Richard Cooper is currently chasing JohnMcGuinness for 3rd place in the 2009 Metzeler National Superstock Championship following a thrilling round at Silverstone, where he claimed his fifth podium of the season.

With Croft race winner McGuinness setting a blistering pace to qualify on pole, and, with newly crowned champion, Alistair Seeley defecting to ride in the new EVO Superbike class, even more points were up for grabs as Cooper looked to close the gap on McGuinness’ stranglehold over third. From the lights, Cooper made a strong start from P4 on the outside of the front row, quickly becoming embroiled in an epic battle with eventual race winner Jenkinson, McGuinness, Neill and Brogan. Never outside the top four, Cooper looked assured of a podium finish. With the two Padgetts Hondas clashing on lap 12, leaving Brogan in the gravel, Cooper briefly elevated his Co-ordit Yamaha into second but could not hold off the advances of McGuinness. The 26 year old crossed the line in third to claim his fifth podium of the season and 16 valuable points. With Brogan failing to score Cooper has been handed a lifeline, and the final round will now see a three-way battle for the runner-up spot. The 2009 season will draw to a thrilling close in two weeks time as the British Superbike Series heads to Oulton Park in Cheshire (9 - 11 October). Cooper will be going out all guns blazing to snatch back third, and possibly even claim second, in the Superstock championship, with Knox protecting him all the way.