GWP sponsorship for moto master Max Cook.

Having previously sponsored rookie Moto3 star Max Cook, GWP Group are proud to announce their continued sponsorship of the teen racer for an additional year.

After his win in the 2015 Aprilia Superteen Championship, GWP Group sponsored Cook throughout his progression in the HEL Motostar Championship 2016. This year (2017) he will be riding a new Honda Moto3 bike for team Wilson Racing in the Motostar class of the British Superbike Championship.

Having been delighted at Max Cook’s progress, GWP Group have extended sponsorship of the local teenager, furthering our support for his continued growth and success throughout the Championship.

Cook’s history of riding started as young as age six. Add two more years and he begins his first stint of racing. Starting off in the Mini Moto’s, Cook won the novice championship within his first year!

Now aged fourteen, proud sponsors GWP will be keeping a close watch on his success throughout the coming season.

The Aprilia Superteen Challenge is a championship for young racers between 12 and 19 years of age. The championship is seen as first step toward professional circuit racing.

Cook’s participation in the challenge saw him accomplish a number of records. He became the first newcomer to win three out of four races in the first round at Brand Hatch – claiming the chequered flag. In addition, Cook also achieved the fastest lap time for the first round of the season (March). His performances throughout this round landed him the title of ‘marshals’ rider of the weekend’, plus saw him sign up with KJD Racing.

By the halfway point in the season (July), Cook had an incredible twelve race wins under his belt – with an additional twelve more races to go. It was no surprise when he was later crowned Superteen Champion being the fastest progressor of the season.

In advance of the new 2016 season, Max Cook was contracted with Team Repli-Cast UK for the HEL Motostar Championship.

With an excellent start to the season Cook finished sixth in his first race for the Scott Redding-backed Repli-Cast team. Come May, his eighth position at the Oulton Park Circuit meant his overall place in the competition stood at seven – the team amazed at his performance.

As a result of Cook’s success, he was invited to try out for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup selection event in Spain toward the end of the season.

The programme which started in 2007 is known for being the capital of Moto riders who advanced from Rookies to winning Moto2 and Moto3 world titles.

Thirteen-year-old Cook was due to travel to Guadix, in Granada alongside almost a dozen riders, who had also been selected for try-outs. The Swindon based rider was set to boost points in his overall HEL Motostar season score, before being caught out by a wet track. This resulted in Cook coming off of his bike and breaking his wrist in the process.

Unfortunately, this meant he was out of action for a few weeks. This, in turn, meant not only did he have to forfeit his position in the Red Bull Rookies try-outs but, also meant that his seventh position in the competition got knocked down to ninth overall (due to his inability to finish the race).

Fully healed and recovered, young racer Cook is now gearing up for the BSB Championship – along with a special announcement!

Kitted out in the new team colours Cook will be riding a new Honda Moto3 in the BSB Championship alongside team members Charlie Atkins and Tom Alexander for Wilson Racing.

As the season is headed for its’ start, the Wilson Racing team members prepared for the up-coming Championships with a four day pre-season test allotment which started on the 2nd March 2017 in Cartagena, Spain. The 3,500 metre circuit is often a popular test track within the biking world – holding a vast 18 curves and a 610 metre straight.

Dashing around the track on the Moto3 bikes, Cook and the rest of the team spent their time familiarising themselves with being back on the bikes after the winter break, whilst also testing the limits of the new Wilson Racing bikes.

Beating his objectives, Cook’s circuit time around the Cartagena track was his fastest by far of those riding a standard bike.

The following week saw Max Cook and the Wilson team travel to Finestrat Circuit, near Benidorm where the team continued their preparations.

Riding his Honda CRF150 Supermoto in the European Jr test, he broke further records by setting the outright lap record for any bike at a junior test of 48.6 seconds.

With an additional two more successful test sessions completed at Donington Park Cook and the boys are now ready for the Championship to get underway.  The first race begins the weekend commencing the 31st of March 2017. Find below a scheduled timetable of the upcoming BSB Championship Races for this season.

31 March – 2 April | Donington Park GP
15 – 17 April | Brands Hatch Indy
29 April – 1 May | Oulton Park
16 – 18 June | Knockhill
30 June – 2 July | Snetterton 300
21 – 23 July | Brands Hatch GP
4 – 6 August | Thruxton
18 – 20 August | Cadwell Park
8 – 10 September | Silverstone GP
15 – 17 September | Oulton Park
13 – 15 October | Brands Hatch GP
29 Sept – 1 October | Assen

Cook’s start to the British Superbike season this weekend (1st April 2017) at Donington Park GP saw him take not one, but, two race wins for new team Wilson Racing. Additionally, recording the fastest time in the standard class, he performed an excellent lap time of 1:41 awarding him the maximum 50 points!

This weekends races (4th August) took place at Thruxton, Andover resulting in a two-race win for Cook with an extended championship lead of 101 points! An excellent lead for the halfway point.

Unfortunately, however, a 120mph crash led to damages to the bike. Cook himself was fine and the team managed to get the bike back for future races.

Sadly though, the vast part of the bike is damaged beyond repair and has to be completely replaced. With only a small budget for crash damage his team, Wilson Racing has set up a donation page to help raise the funds toward a new frame, fuel tank, rear wheel, radiator, exhaust and clocks (see link below).

Having been selected to try out for the 2018 British Talent Cup Cook participated in the selection process on the weekend of 23rd August 2017. Thoroughly enjoying the Stowe Circuit at Silverstone he was hopeful in light of the sessions.

The Talent Cup itself is described as a stepping-stone in which young riders from the U.K. can get their name on the world stage of MotoGP while providing the opportunity for young riders to grow and progress.

Built to nurture riders who struggle with the opportunities to show their talents – the Cup is said to be run at a range of circuits in both the UK and Spain at Dorna-run events including the British GP at Silverstone. Selected riders will be riding the Honda NSF 250R Moto3 machine.

With so many riders trying out the trials began at 9:00 am on the 23rd and continued until 17:00 pm.  Allowing each rider essential time to prove why they should be in the grid lineup next season.

The selection process saw a lineup of 22 talented riders chosen (out of 100) to participate in the 2018 Cup – Max Cook included.

With four races left in the season, Max Cook is named Champion after taking victory in his second race at Oulton Park this weekend (17th Septemeber 2017). Champion Cook has 14 wins out of 19 under his belt, over a third of the races this season he owns the championships.

Cook stole the show on Race Two but the day wasn’t set with the best potential – with wet track conditions Cook’s qualifying lap saw him complete the third-best lap time in the standard class.

The first race started with Cook taking the lead on the first lap, but, he was later caught up by Victor Rodriguez (second in the championship), they both battled it to the finish line but Rodriguez took the race by 0.110 seconds.

Cook already had a lead of 100 points going into race two, meaning another 100 points would secure him the championship win. With the weather once again starting to drizzle all of the riders were back on wet tyres for the second race. Again battling for the lead with Rodriguez, Cook took first place and the championship with over a second to spare!

Max Cook’s win puts him on 436 points for the entire season! A whole 115 points ahead of second place rider Victor Rodriguez, with only 100 points left on offer for the remaining races it was clear that he was given the Championship title he deserved.

In addition to the win, after his unfortunate accident in 2016 resulting in a broken wrist and a missed opportunity, Cook has once again been selected to try out for the Red Bull Rookies this year in a few weeks. Watch this space for more information!

For additional information on Max Cook click here or for further details on the BSB Championships please follow the link here.