Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/990347
VOL. 55 ISSUE 22 JUNE 5, 2018 P61 fifth. When the two-lap board came out it looked as though Savatgy had the moto win in hand, with Cooper within two bike-lengths. But coming down the big hill, Savatgy slowed, pulling off the track with a blown en- gine, allowing a visibly surprised Cooper to resume the lead and go on to earn his first-ever national moto win. "I came off the jump and saw Joey," Cooper said. "It looked like he was going slower than usual. I was like, 'wow,' and then realized something was wrong with his bike. I had a pretty solid lead at that point [with two laps to go], so it was nice to have that cushion and take a little bit of a parade lap [on the last lap]." Behind Cooper at the checkered flag were the brothers Jeremy and Alex Martin (TLD/Red Bull KTM), Smith, Osborne, Plessinger and Austin For- kner (Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki), who finished seventh after a midpack start left him strug- gling to get through the pack. First up the 250-eating start hill for moto two were the Martin brothers: Alex, followed by Jeremy, iii My Own Race: 1 ELI TOMAC 1ST 450MX (1-1) "I felt good all day," Eli Tomac said. "At first, the track didn't have a whole lot to it—after the first practice 'it was going to be pretty easy.' But it developed good character. Ken was riding good today and the roost was not good to be behind some- one. I had to be patient and find a couple of good lines…and get some momentum." 1 ZACH OSBORNE 11TH 250MX (5-20) "Today was a learning experience for me," Zach Osborne said. "I got off to a good start in the first moto and was able to hold on for a fifth. Then, I was hit in the first turn at the start of the second moto and popped my shoulder out. It took me a second to get it back in before I could get going. There's 18 motos left and a lot of points still on the table." 25 MARVIN MUSQUIN 4TH 450MX (4-4) "It was definitely a tough day for me," Marvin Musquin said. "I struggled. Even though I felt like I rode good here last year, it's always a unique one here with the altitude and trying to work on the bike. Unfortunately, I never got a great start and I found myself both motos behind the top three—and even top four—and charged through the motos but missed a little bit of speed today." 62 JUSTIN COOPER 3RD 250MX (1-8) "I was comfortable," said Justin Cooper of his first-moto win. "I just felt good today. I ripped the holeshot. I knew that Joey [Savatgy] was there and had a section where he was faster than me; I tried to defend myself in that section every lap but he eventually got me in that section; I couldn't figure it [that section] out. Overall, I felt good, I was riding my own pace…I don't know what happened to [Savatgy's] bike but I got lucky but I'll take it how I can get it." Cooper later admitted that he was sick during the week and felt "…a little drained after the first moto. When I get healthy again, we'll be fine for two motos." not pretty. We've made some improvements [since Hangtown] and can at least see the guys that are winning the races [instead of] almost getting lapped by them." DEALING WITH THE HAND Ken Roczen is now three races into the season since returning from a hand injury, and he says it's still pretty sore but he can deal with it. "My hand has been kind of the same for the last couple of weeks, just because when you have inflamma- tion—it's like tendonitis—and since I aggravate it [every time I ride], it doesn't really go away. Actu- ally, today in practice, it didn't feel that great…but it kind of stayed right there and almost felt better in the second moto than it did in the first moto. It's so weird; I don't even understand why. I've been get- ting stronger and strong, racing fitness. Overall, I'm more than stoked to be back on the podium." Briefly...