Page 14 - GRIT-80

JUSTIN COOPER
250 MX / 3RD
IMAGE / LANG WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> When viewing the nationals from a panoramic type view, you may just see a mass of riders owing around the track. Even from the sky, you see a heard of machinery oating around the raceway in a funneling type pattern. However, under a closer, more microscopic view, you’ll be quick to nd just how aggressive and ery each one of these competitors are on an individual platform. And none more so than Justin Cooper, as he thrives in the most dangerous of environments. When the track and outside variables place the eld on high alert, he becomes a stoic combatant, looking to take out anyone in his way. And although not dirty throughout practice, he sure was making his presence known, as he would blow past multiple riders that could be considered top-tier. Never batting an eye at anyone around, he looked to place him- self in the most optimum position once qualifying nished; and he would do so, leaving only he and the gate drop to determine his overall placing. The metal brackets would be imprinted into the earth, and his bike would storm across; his rst lap positioning would be that of near rst place, after a spectacular holeshot. Flipping the switch, he would turn both his mentality and machine into overdrive, launching off these hills with dyer intent. Nestled next to Aaron Plessinger, he would try to pace his teammate to the best of his abilities, taking his notes from the test track and putting them in a race scenario. However, he would have company from behind, and it would be that of Jeremy Martin. The veteran would make his way around after a solid battle, pushing the Honda to the third place position on lap ten.
After a thirty-minute battle of integrity, he would come across the line in third place. Moto num- ber two was just around the corner, and before he knew it, he was blitzing around the raceway. Third, fourth, and fth gear were in a constant mix of shuf ing, never being stuck in one gear for more than a few seconds. Looking to move ahead, he and Austin Forkner began to be in a heated duel, after he’d slipped a few places from his holeshot. Going back and forth with the Kawasaki rider, Aaron Plessinger would move by, and place him into fourth, and then a quick change to third; (following Martin’s bike seizing). It was a sea of blue shortly thereafter, with Dylan Ferrandis making his return and presence known. He would stalk the New York native, letting his GP experience really rare it’s head; he would make the move, pushing the number sixty-two to fourth. The white ag would come about, and there he was, in true contention for a podium overall. Literally at the cusp of his ngertips, it was all he could do to get to that nish line. Third overall would be his after this, fourth place nish for the moto.
14 GRITMOTO • JUNE 17, 2018