BMW MOTORRAD BOXERCUP 2004 ROUND 5, SACHSENRING, GERMANY
16 July 2004 - BMW Motorrad GB

BoxerCup series set to race on home soil

This weekend the international BMW Motorrad BoxerCup series will compete on “home” soil at Sachsenring in Germany. Britain’s young team of riders consisting of Richard Cooper (21), Barry Burrell (17) and Calvin Hogan (18) are anxious to secure championship points and improve their positions in the series leader board, as well as the YoungStar championship.

Sachsenring is a technical circuit with plenty of tight and twisty corners and is also the shortest track in the eight round BoxerCup calendar. Both Cooper and Burrell have raced at this circuit before, but it will be Hogan’s first opportunity to ride a R1100 S around the circuit.

“Richard excels on technical tracks,” said BMW Motorrad Great Britain Team Manager, Mark Fisher. “It is vital that the boys get a good qualifying position at this circuit, because it will affect their overall race effort. Last year Richard finished seventh and Barry did really well, but then unfortunately he crashed.

“During the week all three riders had the opportunity to test at Donington Park. They made good progress, which has prepared them for this weekend and also the following round at when the BoxerCup series comes to the UK. They are all eager to do well this weekend and come back to the UK on a high.”

Cooper is placed 11th in the BoxerCup championship, Burrell is 13th and Hogan is 14th. The UK team is the youngest team contesting the 2004 BoxerCup series and all are eligible for the new YoungStar championship, which will see one lucky youngster (under the age of 21) take home a brand new Mini Cooper at the end of the year. Cooper is second in the series, Burrell is third and Hogan is fourth.

Next weekend the BoxerCup series will arrive in England and for the first time will be held at the UK round of the MotoGP championship at Donington Park.

Fans of the BoxerCup series will have the opportunity of meeting Britain’s young hopefuls along with other BoxerCup riders at Roy Pidcock Motorcycles in Nottingham for a social BBQ on Friday 23 July at 7pm. Roy Pidcock Motorcycles are located at Fields Farm Road, Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, NG10 3FZ, or call 0115 946 2233.

Official EU scheduled times for Sachsenring round

Friday 16 July

16:50 – 17:20 – first qualifying session

17:50 – 18:20 – second qualifying session

Saturday 17 July

16:40 – International BoxerCup race (20 laps)

Footnote
The 2004 BoxerCup is Richard Cooper’s third year in a series that is staged alongside the elite MotoGP championship (excluding the opening round at the Daytona 200). Richard’s impressive riding ability, while still a teenager, helped him secure a race win in his debut year at Spa. He then repeated the feat at the UK round of the 2003 series at Oulton Park. Last year Richard finished sixth overall – ahead of many world-class riders.

Barry Burrell had his first taste of international racing when he joined the BoxerCup series last year and showed his youthful ability by taking the race lead at the Oulton Park and Assen rounds. Impressively, he also set the lap record at Assen. With 14 championship points, Barry is now third in the BMW YoungStar championship for the “best rider in the series under the age of 21”. The winner will be presented with a Mini Cooper at the end of the series.

ACU Academy graduate, Calvin Hogan is the GB team’s new recruit and is excited about testing his precocious racing talent on the international stage.

More News
  For July 2004
  From BMW Motorrad GB
  For Racing General
  Biker247.com Home Page