A COFFEE supplier is making a return to backing Superbikes after a nine year absence.

Bradley-based independent coffee distributor Cooper’s Coffee has forged a partnership with a British race team competing in the Supersport and Superstock Championships.

Map Centurion Triumph Racing is a new factory-backed race team established by Dave Fairbrother, of Tech 2 Racing, and Paul Rees, of Centurion Racing and includes a rider who shares the name Cooper – 22-year-old Dan Cooper.

The team has “signed up” for three of Cooper’s filter coffee machines as well as a steady supply of Cooper’s coffee for all their corporate hospitality events.

Cooper’s Coffee first became linked to the sport when managing director David Cooper headed a Ducati Superbike team in 2001.

He said: “Motorbike racing is one of my passions and since my involvement with the industry nine years ago, I remain an avid watcher of the sport. It’s great to be involved in this world again and I hope that our relationship with Dan Cooper and his team goes from strength to strength.”

Team hospitality manager John Cooper decided to sign up to Cooper’s after the company’s coffee was recommended by Eventmaker Hospitality, which caters for some of the top teams in the BSB paddock.

Paul Rees said: “The sales and service we have received so far has been exemplary and Cooper’s have supplied the best equipment for the job. The team and guests that have sampled the coffee have all been highly complementary. “

John Cooper, who is Dan’s father, said: “This is the first year for this brand new race team and we are looking forward to using Cooper’s Coffee for our hospitality.”

Dan (pictured above) will enter the Fuchs Silkolene Supersport championship alongside fellow rider AJ Venter. Team partners Jimmy Hill and Josh Caygill will enter the Metzler 600 Superstock Championship. The new, four-rider team will compete on Triumph Daytona 675 machines in these two prestigious BSB support classes.

The Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship leads the support class in the televised British Superbikes Championship and has become the place for future world champions to be discovered and bike manufactures to go head-to-head.

Dan was British 125 Champion in 2006 and finished the 2009 Supersport season in fifth place, having achieved first, second and third place podiums during the season.