Image: Octopi Media.

Going down early in the second outing proved costly for Justin Cooper at Thunder Valley after the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider was able to secure his first win of the season in moto one.

Cooper almost led from the outset in the first encounter at the third round of 2023 Pro Motocross, ultimately controlling the race from the front to take a 2.773s victory ahead of red plate-holder Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC).

The number 32 launched to the lead again in moto two, however, disaster struck when he fell on the opening lap. The incident shuffled him back outside of the top 10 and he was able to recover to fourth by race-end, which saw him second overall for the round.

“I just got a little bit sketchy over that roller,” Cooper reflected. “A little bit of a first lap… kind of trying to push, trying to figure out some lines and, yeah, I just got caught off guard and wasn’t able to save that one.

“It is a bummer, for sure – I was in a good spot to battle for the win today. It’s tough when you go down on the first lap, you have got a lot of work ahead of you and you get put pretty far back.

“I tried to do my best to get up quick, but my levers were pretty banged up. I don’t know how, I feel like I didn’t go down that hard, but my bike was bent up. It took me a few laps to get my controls back in order and start pushing forward.”

Second overall at on the weekend in Colorado elevates Cooper to second in the 250MX title race, 16 points back from Lawrence as the series moves to High Point this Saturday for round five of the championship.