Page 16 - SEPTEMBRO_MPG

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MPG • SEPTEMBER • 2017
250 A – JUSTIN COOPER
KILPATRICK
Staring down the start line of this vast array of competitors, you could find one sandwiched in between, nodding his helmet in pre-race mode. “Why wouldn’t I want the last shot, when I know I’ve already made it”, echoing throughout the shell of his helmet; Justin Cooper had been oozing with confidence all week, better yet, all season. Accompanied with solid results throughout his amateur career, he nudged into the view of all with his win’s in 2015; claiming the 2-stroke and Collegeboy championships. Since his run a few short years ago, he’s been slowly escalating to an elevation of stardom, with his results garnering a contract from Yamaha’s Star Racing Team. He was ready, pre- pared to take on the premier class of Loretta Lynn’s, the 250 A division. The gate falls for the first moto, one of his biggest foes chasing the coveted championship was Challen Tennant, who jumped to the early lead. Followed by Ramyller Alves, and KTM’s Enzo Lopes, Cooper had much to do in effort to climb the ladder of excellence. Slicing in and out of traffic, his tenth place on lap one was quickly translated into a fourth place effort, working his away around Alves, and Lopes. Sweeping the outsides when ever possible, he would lay down the fastest lap of the moto on circuit number five, but then would seem to be content giving Tennant the nod for the win. He would claim second for the moto, knowing that this was a game of attrition. For the next portion of the series, Cooper wasn’t messing around. Laying down the