Page 14 - Issue 79

JUSTIN COOPER
250 MX / 3RD
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> When rolling into this region of the United States, many are truly unaware to what degree that altitude can play on your body. Depleting you of all energy, and a rapid shortness of breath, it’s an outlier that can crumble even the toughest of competitors. Knowing this, Justin Cooper had been training and visualizing for a number of weeks, looking forward to the mo- ment he could outlast his competitors and truly run them into the ground. It was obvious in practice, as he was one of the few to complete every lap with pure speed, hardly taking any rest at all. Although many might view this as unnecessary exertion, he wanted to drill this no- tion into the minds of his competitors, which he would never ever give up. Moto number one, saw him plastering the eld behind with mud, forcing all who were in tow to quickly swipe their tearoff’s. Jumping in and out of these canyons, his suspension was being pushed to the fullest stroke, as although a factory setting could endure the largest of bumps, he was riding at an unbelievable level. In close company with Joey Savatgy, the two would constantly keep each other in check, gauging their distance with a peripheral eld of magnets. The chassis would rattle, and he could hear the chain begin to slap underneath him, as the engine broke down these hefty hills. Dodging the grand canyon-like potholes with full intent, many behind thought he was riding a bit erratic; but it was all apart of his plan, wherever the smoothest line would be, is where he would go. In the closing laps, second place looked to be sewn up, until a gift (although not a wish on his part) would be given from above; when Savatgy’s bike misfortune would propel him to the lead, where he would claim his rst moto victory ever! For the second round, his right elbow would immediately twist to the fullest extent, in order to get across the metal pad quickly. Lurking near the third place spot, he and his mechanic would rally together and try their best to move forward. With motivational statements, breathing reiterations, and laptimes in constant rotation, he knew if he could just hunt down Alex Martin he would be in contention for an overall victory. But it was though he hit a bit of a wall, maybe resulting from a spike of adrenaline from the rst go around. Battling with Jordon Smith, he would go off track for a split second, landing on the side of a tabletop, allowing Austin Forkner to get very close. Forkner would hound, eventually making the move on lap ve. Fifth would be short lived, as each lap would pass, and another position would come and go; not due to lack of effort how- ever. All in all, as the nal ag would y, he would land eighth. Third overall would be his, and both he and team were beyond excited.
14 GRITMOTO • JUNE 3, 2018