Cooper’s Crossing: World Supercross presents new boundaries for the Yamaha star

The SX1 class gate will be bristling with blue for the opening rounds thanks to two wildcard appearances from Monster Energy Star Yamaha’s Justin Cooper. The 28-year-old raised a few eyebrows with his staunch consistency through 2025 in the USA.  He rose from 6th place in the standings after his debut full term in the premier category and with the YZ450F in 2024 to P3. 

Justin, one half of the ‘Cooper set’ at Star Racing (his teammate is defending champion Cooper Webb), brings extra American presence to 2025 World Supercross and beefs-up the entry list for Argentina and Canada where he’ll reset battle lines with peers including Ken Roczen, Jason Anderson, Justin Hill, former teammate Eli Tomac (in Vancouver) and current teammate Haiden Deegan (in Buenos Aires). 

A Breakout Year Stateside

Cooper will be a decent barometer for his rivals. For the second year in a row he punched through almost every single round of SMX (31 race weekends) and his steadfast approach was rewarded with that bronze medal and further acclaim for his staying power and application. “He had a really good season and, as in all things ‘Justin Cooper’, it was really underrated,” offers PulpMX host and journalist Steve Matthes. “He set the fastest lap a few times and got on the podium. He’s a solid rider.”

For a ‘solid’ act, Cooper is stepping a little out of his comfort zone this winter. The former 250SX champ will begin prep for his third full campaign on the 450cc by packing the suitcase. “I’ve always wanted to do a supercross overseas but never really had an opportunity,” he said. “When my agent chatted to World Supercross and they were keen for me to be a part then it became exciting to think about supercross in new places and countries, new people…and I get to race my dirtbike while being there.”

When my agent chatted to World Supercross and they were keen for me to be a part then it became exciting to think about supercross in new places and countries.

From Cold Spring Harbor to the World Stage

Cooper is a little different thanks to his upbringing from Cold Spring Harbor in New York. The area is hardly a hotbed for ‘moto’ but he shone as an amateur and achieved success in the 250 division before making the step to the 450s in 2023. Despite being an east coaster, international racing opportunities have been few and far between for Cooper. He has represented Team USA at the Motocross of Nations on two occasions, in 2022 and 2025, but both years the event took place on U.S soil. 

In contrast to his countrymen and other competitors in World Supercross, Justin is now able to thumb his passport properly for the first time. “The plan is to do two events: Buenos Aires and then straight to Canada,” he reveals. “Two countries I haven’t been to and also some new guys to race against. We have such a small window [in the calendar] but World Supercross fits nicely into my schedule this year. For me it will be a ‘first’ to race GPs and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The plan is to do two events: Buenos Aires and then straight to Canada, Two countries I haven’t been to and also some new guys to race against.

Preparation, Balance, and Mindset

Cooper last rode the Yamaha in anger during the first weekend of October at the Iron Man MXoN. He hasn’t turned a wheel in supercross since May. The Buenos Aires City GP is the ideal opportunity to think about settings and potential for 2026 but it means his routine has to be maintained. “It’s a tiring and gruelling season so I’m just doing all I can to be mentally and physically ready for each race,” he claims. “It’s a fine line between over-training and easing off too much. It’s hard to keep the body in check.”

Resilience in supercross is not applauded as much as it should be. Injury is the curse of many championship hopefuls and – fingers crossed – Cooper has been able to make the numbers count in the last two seasons. Outings in both South America and North America in the next few weeks could be the basis of a more potent term for this renewed attempt at the 450s and fitting the target at Webb. After all, if his trajectory follows suit then 6th in 2024, followed by 3rd in 2025 means only one possible slot for 2026 450SX. A World Supercross victory could be the kindling to the flame. 

“He probably needs to ‘hang it out’ a bit more to get on the top step,” says Matthes. “Throughout his career he has stayed in control, and you rarely see him have big crashes…but if that’s the worse you can say about him – when he’s getting pole positions and podiums – then that makes for a pretty damn good rider.”