On Saturday evening, Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha riders Justin Cooper and Colt Nichols captured the 2021 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250 West and East regional championships, respectively.
This marks the sixth time in the last seven years that the team has won a 250 supercross championship. Also, this is the first time that they have won both regional titles in the same year. Cooper and Nichols join some elite Star Yamaha Championship Alumni Cooper Webb, Dylan Ferrandis, and Aaron Plessinger as 250 Supercross champions. Here was how both riders came to the biggest moments in each of their careers in 2021.
Justin Cooper’s Path:
Cooper entered 2021 West regional as one of the title favorites alongside new teammate Jeremy Martin. Once Martin went down in the opening seconds of the region’s first main event, Cooper’s title hopes took a huge leap, albeit under sad circumstances. He would begin the year winning in Orlando, before missing the podium for three consecutive rounds afterward. In this span, Cameron McAdoo and Hunter Lawrence would both have a claim to the 250 West points lead. However, Cooper would take it back after taking home the final win in Dallas. And after a stint in Atlanta with a win and a couple of seconds, Cooper ended up 20 points over McAdoo with just one round remaining.
The goal entering the second round in Salt Lake City was simple for Cooper. All he had to do to secure his first career championship, was to finish 17th or better in Saturday Night’s Main Event. After a good but not great start, Cooper would do the smart thing and play the numbers game. He would sit in ninth for most of the evening and that is where he would finish. Getting a win and the championship would have been a great way to end 2021, but Cooper did the smart thing not pushing it. His Championship comes in the fourth full year of his career, all of those at Star Yamaha. This after going pro in late 2017 with Rock River Yamaha in the late stages of Motocross.
Give it up for your 2021 250SX West Champion, @JustinCooper32 🏆#SupercrossLIVE #DropTheGate pic.twitter.com/cRvK4tRB7K
— Supercross LIVE! (@SupercrossLIVE) May 2, 2021
Colt Nichols Path:
Nichols going into 2021 was not a dark horse necessarily but was not a championship favorite by any means either. Names like new teammate Christian Craig, Jett Lawrence, and Austin Forkner had a ton of hype going into the East Regional opener in Houston. Forkner, who has had a tough go health-wise, ended up knocking himself out for the season early on in Houston. Lawrence at times rode like the best rider in the class but had consistency issues. On top of some other smaller injuries in Indianapolis as well. Craig meanwhile had a great start to 2021 by winning the opener in Houston. However, only secured one more win from then on out. Craig then had a serious ankle injury in qualifying at Salt Lake City, effectively ending his title hopes and season.
Nichols, meanwhile, was consistent the entire season. He podiumed in every single east regional main event he ran in 2021 and won three straight mains at rounds three, four, and five. After his second win, Nichols would take sole possession of the East points lead and would keep it the rest of the season. His goal entering round two in Salt Lake City was to finish 20th or better in the 250 Main Event. After a phenomenal start, he did much more than that. Nichols would finish second on the evening behind Jett Lawrence to take home his first career professional title. Nichols wins this championship in his sixth full year as a pro, and fifth with the team.
Congrats to your 2021 250SX East Champion, @_ColtNichols 🏆 #SupercrossLIVE #DropTheGate pic.twitter.com/WNv3fiQxhe
— Supercross LIVE! (@SupercrossLIVE) May 2, 2021
The Road to Victory:
Cooper gets his first championship in just his third full year as a professional rider. Already a member of a Team USA entry for the Motocross Des Nations, this is now another cap in Cooper’s young career. Cooper’s worst points finish in either Supercross or Motocross fully healthy since 2018 is a fifth in 2020 Motocross. It’s quite hard to find a more consistent rider than the pride of Cold Spring Harbor, New York. Cooper had a much different upbringing than his peers. Cooper unlike most riders, was not homeschooled, and even spent a year in college to boot. 2022 will almost certainly be his final year in the class before jumping to the 450s. It would be hard to tell you who would not be interested in acquiring his services if he hits the open market.
Nichols’s path to a factory team was done the hard way. He started out as a privateer rider, practically working out of a van to make races and work on his bikes. Then Nichols would get his break with Crossland Honda, and then Rock River Yamaha afterward. Star Yamaha would then bring Nichols on board for 2017. His stint with the squad had been mostly injury-filled up to this point. Nichols’ only top-five points finish was a third in 250 West Supercross in 2019. But this was finally the year where it was all put together for him. Nichols after almost leaving the sport as a privateer can call himself a 250 Supercross Champion.
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Main Image Credit: Embed from Getty Images
