Page 37 - AX-2018

JAKE GAGNE
The start of the 15-lap Eastern Regional AX Lites Class Main Event saw an early battle between Woodstock KTM’s Hunter Sayles and Cooper
out of the gate, but it was Babbitt’s/GPF/Monster Energy Kawasaki/MMCR’s Jacob Williamson who emerged with the lead coming out of the whoops. He was able to sprint out to an early lead, while Cooper settled into second and Sayles third. However, the race turned into Cooper’s favor on Lap 2 when Williamson crashed out of the lead
in the whoops and dropped to the tail end of the field, eventually reentering multiple laps down. That allowed Cooper to take over control of the Main Event, where he proceeded to check out on the field. Behind him, Sayles and MTF Yamaha’s Wilson Fleming fought for the final two spots
on the podium, but it was Isaac Teasdale who was the rider to watch. After starting seventh,
the KTM rider began an impressive march to the front, taking over fourth on Lap 3, and passing Fleming for third on Lap 5. He methodically closed in on Sayles for second and waiting for the opportunity to make the pass, successfully doing so on Lap 11. Cooper went unchallenged for the win and crossed the finish line more than 12 seconds ahead of Teasdale. Sayles rounded out the podium in third. Cooper added to his championship lead, and now sits 18 points ahead of Williamson, who finished 15th. Teasdale moved into third, 19 points out of the lead.
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