Page 252 - MPG_JAN_2017

450 Pro Sport
J COOPER
IMAGE / WONDERGOAT WORDS / KILPATRICK DESIGN / WILSON
>> Luke Purther grabbed a massive advantage following the gate drop as he stormed off to a holeshot on his Motocon- cepts backed Honda machine. The Cycletrader/Rock River Yamaha of Justin Cooper followed him for the opening lap and then immediately began to pile the pressure on as he barrelled by the Honda rider through the whoops section. The Rockstar Husqvarna of Jordan Bailey was not far behind as he began to close the gap to Purther in 2nd place. Cooper rapidly stretched his advantage at the front of the field as the Honda rider continued to fend off the chasing pack of Bailey, Alves, and Hartranft. Jordan Bailey was able to put a block pass on the Honda rider at the bottom of the gator pit just before the finish line and the EBR backed Yamaha of Alves soon followed. Meanwhile, the New York native of Justin Cooper completely checked out on the rest of the pack as he concentrated on being smooth and consistent in the lead. He continued to lay down the fastest laps of the field as he took the white flag with a massive advantage over the Rockstar Husky of Bailey in 2nd. The battle to watch on the final lap was between Bailey and EBR Yamaha’s Alves as the two of them navigated the track within a couple tenths of one an- other. Alves tried everything in order to provide himself with an opportunity to steal away 2nd place, but he wasn’t able to close in on the Florida native ahead of him. Cooper cruised across the finish line to the moto win as well as the overall victory by way of 2-1 scores.
252 MPG • JANUARY 2017