JUSTIN COOPER GRIT-230 250MX

JUSTIN COOPER | GRIT-230 | 250MX

As the gap between he and Honda's Hunter Lawrence would narrow, in regard to the chase for the 250ccc Motocross Championship, Yamaha's Justin Cooper began to zero-in on the task at hand as engines fired in Maryland. The atmosphere was electric, with Cooper immediately establishing a presence with incredible bursts of speed around the legendary circuit - concluding the timed trials with a position of first prior to embarking on the points paying sanctions shortly thereafter. And as the narrative began to unfold for the first moto, it would be the number thirty-two machine who resided inside the top-ten while seeking to eventually put as many positions possible between he and the rivaled Australian veteran. However, Lawrence was inside the top-five while Cooper would quarrel amongst the latter portion(s) of single-digit territory; and Cooper seemed to be interlocked in a battle with Ryder DiFrancesco and Jalek Swoll, through the first ten minutes of competition. This would allow Lawrence (fourth) and Haiden Deegan (who led) to steadily distance themselves. Cooper and DiFrancesco would then partake in a strenuous battle around the halfway mark, where the Kawasaki rider's line of defense was difficult for Cooper to topple...all the while, Jalek Swoll was relentless in letting Cooper sprint away! However...this battle would abruptly come to a close, as a red flag was thrown just near the halfway point! And an unfortunate restart would ensue, though Cooper took advantage of the "re-rack" and proceeded to embark on the initial sections in third-place. But he knew that he couldn't spare anytime in passing Hunter Lawrence who was just ahead - therefore, Jalek Swoll led the two rivals over the largest anthill just after the finish-line, Cooper would slam into the inside of Lawrence's machine! It was an aggressive pass, but fitting for the situation...and left Cooper into the second-place residency, to then try and overtake Swoll. A spectacular move in the minutes thereafter, amongst the switchback "S-curve" section) would promote Cooper to the lead roll of the first moto narrative...with Lawrence moving past Jalek shortly thereafter. But regardless of how hard Lawrence charged, Cooper's pace was able to nullify it - leaving Cooper victorious, to begin the two-race quest! With the pins unlatching from the brackets that housed each competitor, in an instant, Cooper's rear wheel would leap onto the Maryland soil with a means of aggression that couldn't be tamed. Immediately diving into the tight-knit first turn thereafter, he would contend for a top-three position - with Austin Forkner and Hunter Lawrence ahead of him. Lawrence was an opponent that broke away from Cooper and the Kawasaki opponent, where Justin would reside behind the Missouri native for seven laps...before the pressure that was amassed eventually led to Forkner drifting wide, before leaping from the downhill drop-off before the mechanic's area. Once Cooper powered through the inside rut, it would be a definitive pass made on his behalf - but there was little that he could do otherwise to nullify the lead that Lawrence had already generated. Knowing that each point was valuable, the charge on behalf of the number thirty-two was admirable...but it would be too little, too late as the seveteen-lap contest eventually ended; with Cooper residing both second in the moto, and second overall, while looking to leave it all on the line in Crawfordsville next weekend.

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