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John Cooper (motorcyclist)
Encyclopedia
John Cooper was a British
former Grand Prix
motorcycle
road racer
. His best season was in 1967
when he finished the year in seventh place in the 500cc world championship. Cooper was a two-time winner of the North West 200
race held in Northern Ireland
. He is remembered for his upset victory over the reigning 500cc world champion, Giacomo Agostini
at the 1971 Race of the Year held at Mallory Park
. Cooper rode a BSA Rocket 3 to finish three-fifths of a second ahead of Agostini's MV Agusta
. A section of the Mallory Park circuit has been renamed the John Cooper Esses in his honor.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
former Grand Prix
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
road racer
Road racing
Road racing is a general term for most forms of motor racing held on paved, purpose-built race tracks , as opposed to oval tracks and off-road racing...
. His best season was in 1967
1967 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season
The 1967 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 19th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix season. The season consisted of thirteen Grand Prix races in six classes: 500cc, 350cc, 250cc, 125cc, 50cc and Sidecars 500cc...
when he finished the year in seventh place in the 500cc world championship. Cooper was a two-time winner of the North West 200
North West 200
The North West 200 is a motorcycle race meeting held each May in Northern Ireland. The course, made up of public roads running between the towns of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush is one of the fastest in the world, with speeds in excess of . It is one of around fifteen events run on public...
race held in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. He is remembered for his upset victory over the reigning 500cc world champion, Giacomo Agostini
Giacomo Agostini
-Non-riding career:Like John Surtees and Mike Hailwood before him, Agostini raced in Formula One cars. He competed in non-championship Formula One races in 1978. He competed in the European Formula 2 series in a Chevron B42-BMW and British Aurora Formula 1 with his own team and a Williams FW06...
at the 1971 Race of the Year held at Mallory Park
Mallory Park
Mallory Park is a motor racing circuit situated in the village of Kirkby Mallory, just off the A47, between Leicester and Hinckley. With the full car circuit measuring only 1.35 miles it is amongst the shortest permanent race circuits in the UK...
. Cooper rode a BSA Rocket 3 to finish three-fifths of a second ahead of Agostini's MV Agusta
MV Agusta 500 Three
MV Agusta 500cc Three is a road racing motorcycle made by MV Agusta to compete in the 500 cc Grand Prix motorcycle racing World Championship. The motorcycle was introduced in 1966 to compete with the ever competitive Honda Racing. The bike was a bored out version of MV Agusta's highly...
. A section of the Mallory Park circuit has been renamed the John Cooper Esses in his honor.