Yamaha’s Justin Cooper would gain valuable points on the championship leader (i.e. Hunter Lawrence) for last week’s event at the Red Bud Motocross facility. And as a competitor, the New York native would plan to capitalize on any circumstance that presented itself on behalf of the Honda rider’s injury (respectfully) — which was to be expected with implications of this magnitude. Therefore it was to no surprise when Cooper soared to second overall in the overall standing(s) of practice, eyeing the main events thereafter as a platform to excel. As the thirty-second board would turn horizontally for the opening bout, it was Cooper just seconds thereafter who emerged first after claiming the hole-shot award. Justin would scrub the opening ant-hill with authority while being hounded by both, Jalek Swoll and Tom Vialle. Rivaled by the former MXGP standout (of Vialle) early, Cooper would be able to obtain a small gap of just over a second prior to taking the green flag and laps thereafter. The precision of Cooper was admirable, where he remained efficient for countless laps of the opening platform. Five minutes, ten minutes, and even past the twenty minute mark, would the New York resident remain cemented atop the leaderboard; but Cooper’s focus would slightly lapse, with around six minutes remaining on the clock. He would wash out amongst a compact switchback section on the far side, where too much pressure would be applied to the front-end in right-handed corner; forcing him to second, with Tom Vialle taking the lead. The latter moto of the afternoon wasn’t long thereafter, and following a cool-down session of sorts amid his pit area, the New York native would then return to the line of battle to begin the following sector of competition; where his clutch releases and shifting points from the starting grid would lead him to an initial position of fourth as he sought to make moves. Overtaking Seth Hammaker before the completion of the sixth circuit, it was then on lap ten when a brilliant pass would be made on Tom Vialle; where Cooper swept from inside to outside, amid the “Buckley Berm” sequence of switchbacks and stormed pass Tom Vialle amid the far left-berm! Now into a runner-up position, it was only a matter of time before he caught the racer leader, Jo Shimoda. This would lead to around one minute being left on the clock, when it seemed as if the New York native had the means of passing the Kawasaki rider...until an unfortunate wash-out in a left-handed corner (not long before the finish-line) had him crashing to the ground! Luckily he was able to remount, and retain the second position ahead of Vialle; where he resided to the checkered flag, claiming second overall on the day!