FAST FACT

Will Justin Cooper’s Qualifying Speed Follow Him?

January 2, 2025

By Brett Smith

Cooper was a top three Qualifier six times in 2024 but that speed didn’t come to the main event with him.

As a rookie, Justin Cooper posted a top five qualifying time in 10 of the 17 rounds in 2024.

But only twice did a top five in qualifying result in a top five finish that same evening (Birmingham and Salt Lake City).

Can Cooper get his qualifying speed to follow him to the main event?

Justin Cooper 2024: Q vs. FIN

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For example: he had SIX(!) top three qualifying finishes but finishes outside the top five on five of those evenings, including the Anaheim 2 Triple Crown, where he was the fastest overall qualifier, but finished 8th overall (10-5-6).

Cooper’s season average qualifying finish was 6.0 but throw out the disastrous 21st in qualifying from the San Francisco mud and Cooper’s average Q position is exactly 5.0.

That puts him right there with his Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha teammates Cooper Webb (4.6) and Eli Tomac (4.4).

With strong finishes down the back half of the schedule, he eeked out a 6th place season, passing the injured Ken Roczen at the Salt Lake City finale with his first career podium (2nd).