Daniel takes on the big boys (From Barry And District News)

Daniel takes on the big boys

AFTER brilliant results at Pembrey just a week ago, Mark Edwards of Llantwit Major (Daniel's coach and mentor), and 14 year old Daniel (Ferret) Cooper of Briscombe, headed for Donington Park where Daniel took on the awesome Donington Park circuit.

Mark was looking to develop and encourage the smooth flowing style of Daniel and improve his riding skills during the weekend making use of his many years of experience and track knowledge. This helped Daniel take on the challenges of those riders with previous knowledge and track time on the famous circuit.

During practice Daniel made excellent use of his smooth flowing style and made some of the more difficult areas of the track such as the sweeping Craner Curves and the fast blind Coppice Corner work so well that it enabled him to produce astounding results in the races to come.

Saturday saw Daniel on the grid with some tough opposition from riders with several seasons experience tucked firmly under their belts but with little or no knowledge of Daniel!

Saturday, race one (six laps)

Daniel started from the back row of the grid making a good start. At the end of the first lap he was lying in a strong second place a position he retained to the chequered flag, some five seconds behind race winner Andrew Sennett who is currently fourth in the MRO British Championship.

Both Daniel and Sennett posted one minute 19 seconds laps.

Race two, (six laps)

In lap six Daniel made a brilliant passing manoeuvre (with the skill of a much more experienced and older rider), passing Sennett on the inside at the blind crest corner of Coppice, which had the crowd on its feet. Daniel held this position to the chequered flag to record his first ever race win on the Honda 125 GP bike.

Daniel won by the narrowest of margins, two 100ths of a second.

Sunday, race one (six laps)

Sundays race saw Daniel finish second by 11 100ths of a second and 12 seconds ahead of third position.

Daniel posted fastest lap of this race of one minute 19:19 seconds.

Race two (six laps)

Another scrap between Daniel and Sennett with the lead changing hands several times. Sennett was penalised 20 seconds for a starting grid errors and Daniel was credited with a second win for the weekend.

All in all a massive weekend of learning for the 14 year old youngster which proved that Mark Edwards from Llantwit Major had really spotted an extraordinary talent in this young man and fully justifies the efforts and commitment to the team that surround him.

Mark is sure there will be many, many more wins to come. On this weekends performance it seems very likely.

Daniel now moves on to Cadwell Park on April 13 and April 14 where the battle for the New Era 125 Championships will continue.

Team sponsors, e-validator (On-line Skills Assessment company), 5i (IP Telephony Software and Services company) Seanna (High Tech Marketing Company) and Seren Loans are extremely pleased with results so far and the excellent job Daniel has done in promoting the companies.

Visit Daniel's website www.ferretracing.co.uk for up to the minute news.