Cooper Sixth Overall in Pro Motocross Premier-Class Debut   Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper overcame adversity to finish sixth overall at the Pro Motocross season opener in Pala, California   MARIETTA, Ga. – May 26, 2024 – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper had a strong premier-class debut at the Fox Raceway National, overcoming adversity in the second moto to finish sixth overall with a 5-8 score at yesterday’s Pro Motocross season opener in Pala, California.   Cooper qualified fifth for his first outdoor national aboard the YZ450F. The rookie built on that in the first moto with a great start in third. He was shuffled to fourth on that opening lap and rode a strong race in fourth for most of the 30-minute-plus-two-lap moto but was passed on the final lap and crossed the line fifth. In Moto 2, he got another great start but unfortunately got caught up in a first-turn crash and rejoined at the back of the field. Undeterred, Cooper put his head down and quickly made his way to 21st by the first lap. The New Yorker kept working his way forward to finish eighth and secure sixth overall.   Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing heads north for the Hangtown Motocross Classic – Round 2 of Pro Motocross and Round 19 of the SuperMotocross World Series – at Prairie City SVRA in Rancho Cordova, California, on June 1.   Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager “All in all, it was a great day for Justin. He had two phenomenal starts. Unfortunately, in the second start, he came together with AP (Aaron Plessinger) in the first turn, but the start was good. In the first moto, he had a great ride, and in the second, he came from 38th all the way back to eighth for six overall and one point from fourth overall. So it was a good first round. There is a lot to build on, and we will move on to Hangtown.”   Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32 “We got the first 450 outdoor national out of the way, and it went well. I had good starts in both motos. In the first moto, I got passed on the last lap for fifth, and in the second moto, I got tangled up in the first turn and came from last to eighth. So overall, it was a good day with two consistent motos and something to build on for next week.”   2024 Pro Motocross 450MX Fox Raceway Results 2024 Pro Motocross 450MX Championship Standings