Justin Cooper didn’t make the decision to give professional racing a real shot until later in the game than many young amateur up=and-comers, but the pieces really started to fall in line beginning last year at Loretta Lynn’s.
Cooper may have waited until late in his amateur career to choose the path of professional racing, but his name sure caught fire quickly. The 19-year-old from New York went from rather unknown to absolute superstar in a matter of a few races, where he started winning–a lot. Moto after moto, Cooper was emerging as “the one to watch”. In fact, he finished out his amateur career by winning both the Open Pro Sport and 250A titles during the Rocky Mountain ATV/MC AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s, as well as walking away with the highly coveted and well-respected Nicky Hayden AMA Horizon Award, formerly the AMA Horizon Award.
The momentum hasn’t slowed down since concluding his amateur caree, as Cooper has already signed both a Supercross and Pro Motocross contract with the Star Racing Yamaha team for 2018. If you don’t know the name Justin Cooper yet, it’s one you’d better commit to memory because this rookie may just be about to catch the world by storm. Just prior to the 2017 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship finale at Ironman Raceway in Crawfordsville, Indiana, here’s what Cooper had to say about joining the ranks of the best dirt bike riders in the entire country.
Justin Cooper: It’s going pretty well, actually. I didn’t expect to do this good, so early on. I was just expecting to learn what I could from these last three rounds, but I ended up doing really good at my debut at Unadilla. That fired me up to keep it going. I had rough weekend at Budds Creek. It was really hot–just lack of experience I think. Definitely building still was able to get a good second moto in there. I’ve just been training really hard with these guys and I guess getting better every day.
DirtBikes.com: How does having the support you had during your amateur career prepare you for your professional racing debut?
Justin Cooper: The whole Yamaha Blu Cru Amateur team helped me out a lot this year–they definitely were the structure, the backbone of my whole amateur season this year. They really helped me progress through all the nationals. I ended up doing really good this year and was able to finish it off strong with three titles at Mammoth and then two titles at Loretta Lynn’s and winning the horizon award was really cool.
DirtBikes.com: You spent your final amateur season with the CycleTrader Rock River amateur program, but at the end of your amateur career, you ended up signing with Star Racing Yamaha. How long is that contract for?
Justin Cooper: I’ll be with them for Supercross and Motocross in 2018.
DirtBIkes.com: How long have you been racing?
Justin Cooper: I started riding when I was around 4 and racing at around 6. I’m 19 now, so 13 years racing. Definitely wouldn’t change a thing if I were to go back. I’ve had a lot of fun with it all my life and that’s the main goal.
DirtBikes.com: Do you have a favorite racing moment as an amateur? Most memorable race?
Justin Cooper: It would have to be the last one at Loretta Lynn’s because that’s pretty much… just to get the (Nicky Hayden AMA) Horizon Award alone, just hearing the names that have gotten it already… it’s a really big accomplishment for me. I would have to say it’s the best amateur race I’ve had.
DirtBikes.com: As someone who has spent most of your life around racing, you must also enjoy it as a fan as well. Who was your favorite rider growing up and why?
Justin Cooper: Favorite rider would have to be Ricky Carmichael. Just watching him, he was kind of in my era. I would always watch him growing up and would always look up to him. I looked up to him and wanted to be like him.
DirtBikes.com: Who has influenced you most on your racing journey – whether that’s a parent, or pro rider, or coach, or fellow amateur rider?
Justin Cooper: I would have to go with myself on that one. I’ve done it all on by myself. I’m just really self-disciplined, so I know what I want and I work hard to get it.
DirtBikes.com: When did you know that racing professionally would be the goal?
Justin Cooper: Probably last year? Actually after Loretta’s last year. That’s when things started coming around and I knew that was going to be the next step.
DirtBikes.com: What do you think will be most different about racing for amateur national titles versus now racing professionally?
Justin Cooper: Amateurs to professionals is a lot different. In the amateurs, there are really only a few guys who are up there near the top. In the pros, everyone is in tiptop shape. Everyone is really fast – everyone is pretty much the same. Fighting for a title is just doing your homework and I guess just riding, doing all your training and just figuring it out.
DirtBikes.com: What are your goals for 2018?
Justin Cooper: Of course I have my goals, but I haven’t thought about 2018 too much.
DirtBikes.com: What was the most challenging part about making your pro debut right after Loretta’s?
Justin Cooper: I didn’t really look at it like that. I was really focused on Loretta’s and finishing out strong in my amateur career. I just carried the momentum into Unadilla and rode how I could and whatever happens, happens. It went really good and I can’t complain about that.
DirtBikes.com: What does a typical training week look like for you?
Justin Cooper: I train with Gareth Swanepoel and all the Star Racing guys. We have a tough week. We ride a couple days a week and do a lot of off the bike work. We’re definitely prepared coming into the weekend.
DirtBikes.com: You didn’t take quite the traditional route on your way to making your pro debut, even taking a year of college classes once you graduated high school. Are you still in school? If yes, how will that play into your 2018 season?
Justin Cooper: That was a backup plan. I put that on hold for now because obviously things are working out now, and it’s my job so I have to take it serious. I figured I’d start on it. I have a thing against parents taking their kids out of school for riding so early in the game. It’s really hard to make it in this sport, a lot of people don’t and I think it’s just hurting–you need a backup plan is what I’m trying to say.
DirtBikes.com: Do you have a favorite part of moto that isn’t racing?
Justin Cooper: I have to say; I’ve been around it all my life so that’s all I know. All the fans and everything, they go wild, they all love it. It’s just a good time.
DirtBikes.com: When you’re not racing, how do you like to spend your time?
Justin Cooper: I think I would have to go with… I don’t even have that many hobbies anymore. But I like to play basketball, snowboard in the winter. I like to do a lot of stuff in the summer out on the boat. That’s cool for me–just anything that’s relaxing that takes your mind off all the stress we go through week in and week out with racing.
DirtBikes.com: What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given about making the transition from amateur star to professional rookie?
Justin Cooper: Man I haven’t gotten that much advice. I knew what I was coming into pretty much and I knew it was going to be hard. I didn’t really put any pressure on myself. I kind of just went out there and did what I could. Definitely no pressure and wanted to have fun out there.
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