Page 56 - Issue_78

CODY COOPER
450 MX / 10TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> As the series still clouds over California, you get to see many of these riders contest the tracks we’ve raced on, in the prior weeks leading up to the national’s commence- ment. “Test Track Buzz” if you will, has everyone in the Southern California eyeing, critiquing, and distinguishing who’s going to be the fastest rider, once time for an of cial gate drop. Throughout the aforementioned days, many would discuss Cody Cooper
and how well he looked on the 450; but he knew as soon as the Glen Helen National was placed upon him, he would have to “put up, or shut up.” Backing up the talking with surges of con dence, he ourished in practice, well into the deep waters of the sec-
ond session. Never sinking ship, he stayed a oat amongst the toughest of contenders, and would go into the races with sky-high self-belief. Moto number one saw him being infested with competition in the early going, nearly tagging the Honda of Christian Craig as the leader had gone down, just past the top double jump. With Roczen and Tomac in the lead, he knew if he could attempt to pace their trail, he would be in good shape. He was trying his hardest, to keep the number 321 of Bradley Lionnet at bay. Nearly wheel- tapping the SX whoops, just prior to the start, you could tell he was in sync with his machine, but was just a hair off of the front-runners, which was to be expected. Running laptimes near the 2:50 minute mark, he knew if he could hold this type of circuit time, he would be in good shape. He would do just that, placing sixteenth for the moto. The sec- ond moto was underway, and emerging from “Operation Desert Storm” on the rst lap, he would sit fteenth. All he could do was survive and advance, or at least try to that is. It was all he could do to keep the bars from headshaking a bit, coming down Mt. St. Helen, but his brute strength kept the steering stem and clamps in alignment. Nearly dragging footpegs in this gnarly inside rut, just after the nish line, he knew line choice would be imminent in the last moments, if he wanted to keep Kyle Chisholm at bay. He would be calculated as always, caressing the machine to the nish, and looking towards taking home the tenth place moto nish; he would do so, and ultimately end up tenth overall.
56 GRITMOTO • MAY 27, 2018