Image: Octopi Media.

Two-time champion Jeremy Martin has won the 250MX overall in Lucas Oil Pro Motocross at Washougal following a costly late mistake from Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha teammate Justin Cooper.

Cooper had been in position to win the round and take a healthy points advantage into the upcoming two-week break, but instead it was Martin on top of the box.

As the gates dropped on 250MX moto one, an opening turn crash involving Jo Shimoda (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) and Jalek Swoll (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) saw the latter exit the race, while out front it was Carson Mumford (FXR Chaparral Honda) who captured the holeshot.

A resurgent Mumford managed to hold onto the lead for the opening three laps in an inspired effort, however, it was new red plate-holder and top qualifier Justin Cooper (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha) who would storm his way into the lead.

Cooper was followed almost immediately by RJ Hampshire (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna) by Mumford into P2 and that’s the way it would remain, Cooper holding Hampshire out by 2.824s across the finish.

Earning third was Jeremy Martin (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha), just five seconds outside of the winner and comfortably ahead of Michael Mosiman (TLD Red Bull GasGas) in fourth.

In P5 came Hunter Lawrence (Team Honda HRC), as Pierce Brown (TLD Red Bull GasGas), Jett Lawrence (Team Honda HRC), Colt Nichols (Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha), Maximus Vohland (Red Bull KTM) and Garrett Marchbanks (Club MX Yamaha) completed the top 10.

Mumford, meanwhile, would eventually finish in 11th position, while Shimoda remounted and clawed his way back to 24th by the end of the moto.

Victory from Martin in the second 250MX moto saw him claim back-to-back overall wins, but it wasn’t before a major shake-up in the closing laps that the result went Martin’s way.

Early leader and also points-leader Cooper was in position to take second in the moto with two laps remaining, which would have handed him the round, but a heavy crash up Horsepower Hill bumped him way down the order to P8 and fortunate to finish altogether.

What that did was enable Martin to cruise to a 11.837s advantage over Jett Lawrence, who himself had put on a brilliant charge through the pack into position to capitalize on Cooper’s incident.

Another strong ride from Hampshire earned him P3, whole Brown was again impressive for fourth place and Shimoda rebounded to take fifth this afternoon.

Sixth through 10th was Dilan Schwartz (BarX Chaparral Ecstar Suzuki), Mosiman, Cooper, Austin Forkner (Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki) and Hunter Lawrence, who had to recover from an early crash of his own. Nichols was a late casualty, crashing out in the closing laps on the moto.

Overall, Martin made it two in a row from Hampshire and Cooper, who salvaged a podium despite his second moto struggles. In the standings, Cooper maintains the red plate ahead of Jett Lawrence, now eight points separating the pair.

Next on the 2021 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship schedule will be Unadilla on Saturday, 14 August, following two weekends off in the mid-season break.

Detailed results