Dean Harrison and Richard Cooper will join forces in 2023 as they tackle the North West 200 with Boyce Precision Engineering/ Russell Racing.

The Northern Ireland based squad, run by Glenavy’s Alister Russell and backed by the Portadown-based engineering company, will field last year’s podium-sitters on YZF R6 Yamahas as they contest the Supersport Class at the NW200 from May 7-13th with Harrison continuing on for the IOM TT.

The Bradford rider also finished on the podium of both Supersport TTs last season and was given the go ahead to find a new 600cc machine for 2023 after the DAO Racing Kawasaki squad he has ridden for in recent seasons pulled out of the Supersport class for the coming year.

“I rode the BPE Yamaha during a test at Cartagena in Spain and did my fastest ever 600c time around there on it.” Harrison explained. “The R6 doesn’t move about as much as the Kawasaki and on paper it should be quicker which will provide an advantage.”

“I rode the BPE Yamaha for the first time at the final round of the British championship at Brands Hatch, finishing second and third.” Cooper added. “Then I had two wins on the R6 at the Sunflower meeting and I knew the bike was the business. At Brands I was running at the front with Lee Johnston who is winning TTs and North West 200 races so I think I now have the package to do the same at the North West.

“I had a great week at the 200 last year, probably the best week of my racing life and the event is at the top of my calendar now.” Cooper continued. “Last year was only my third time there but I like the challenge of riding a series of different bikes in the wet and the dry.”

“It is great to have two top class riders, both proven winners, on board for 2023,” Team manager, Russell confirmed. “Richard proved the potential of the Yamaha during the final round of the British Supersport championship at Brands and with Dean joining him in the squad we now have two riders who should be fighting for podiums this year. It is a big thing for the team to have riders of their calibre. We will do selected rounds of the British championship and a lot more racing this time around than we did last year.”