Image: Octopi Media.

Justin Cooper says it’s important to continue to build momentum, as he begins to focus on his bid for the 2021 250MX title.

While the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross season is just a round shy of halfway, Cooper is maintaining a balance between championship focus and taking it race by race.

“For sure our eyes are on the championship and we’re not even halfway yet, so it’s a little early to talk about championship,” Cooper explained. “But we’re obviously keeping track of where we’re at and we’re not trying to lose any points.

“It’s a long season and I think everyone’s getting pretty tired, so I think it’s going to be important to keep this momentum rolling and be the strong guy every weekend.

“I’ve been trying to stay consistent and doing what I can with what I’ve got and from here on out it’s the same plan. When we start getting into the closing moments of this championship that’s when it’ll be time to see who’s going to step up and take it.”

A comeback ride in the first moto caused Cooper to use a little more energy than he planned, putting him on the back foot for moto two.

Despite the first moto struggle, he still managed 6-2 on the day for second overall, clawing back a few points on Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC) in the championship.

“I got up in last [in moto one], and it was a long moto from there on,” he continued. “I just had to give it everything and I kind of had to pay the price in the second moto, I didn’t really have the energy to keep a really strong pace.

“Once Jett got behind me in the second moto, obviously the championship came into my mind and I pulled everything out to try and get away from him. But I definitely paid the price by giving it all I had in the first one to make it to sixth.”

The series now heads to Spring Creek for round six, with Cooper trailing Lawrence by three points.