Who will have the better rookie SX season? I think we know who the “rookie of the year” is pegged to be, but the battle for 2nd in that category could get quite interesting. These guys have spent a lot of time racing eachother over the past 5 years, with last years’ outdoor title being a straight up duel between the two the whole way through. Both have impressive 250 stats.
Hunter : 21 MX podiums, 8 wins, 1 title. 22 SX podiums, 12 wins, 1 title, 2 runner ups.
Justin : 39 MX podiums, 4 wins, 2 runner ups. 16 SX podiums, 4 wins, 1 title, 2 runner ups.
I’m going with Cooper, I think he’s the most underrated rider coming into this series, but I think both of these guys end up top 5 in the series, along with Hunter’s lil bro, pushing some of our old heroes out.
Hunter.
Although I also think Cooper is underrated and will be really good. Especially outdoors
I feel like j-coop has gone backwards over the last couple years. Ever since his foot injury.
No mention that Cooper already has 5x top ten results in 450 SX?
Regardless I think Hunter has a higher ceiling.
Hunter for sure. Comparing those results is silly bc just was racing nations since 2018 I believe. Hunter only 3 years or 4. Hunter has proven he’s able to come through the pack after a bad start. Justin not so much.
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Bet you he pulls a few holeshots
Hunter is my dark horse … i think he far out performs everyone’s expectations!
I disagree, their results are very comparable. Yes Justin did one more season of outdoors than Hunter, but Hunter had two seasons of GPs before coming here. Both only have been healthy/eligible for 3 years of SX, and have the same series’ finishes, although Hunter got more wins and podiums while doing so. However, Justin’s title was over Hunter, the only time they’ve gone head to head in SX.
Justin Cooper, if his head is on straight I think can surprise some people this year. But based on their results recently, it's hard to put him over Hunter. The biggest thing with Hunter will be if he can figure out how to start. He has a history of putting himself in bad positions to start races. They can't all start up front, and I can see him starting even worse consistently against a better and deeper field. . Justin used to be a really good starter. That is the only advantage I see cooper having coming into the season over Hunter.
I think they will be similar in speed, with one consistently fading backwards and one always moving forward.
Cooper has some experience on the 450 in SX. Hunter is coming in with none. I’d favor Cooper. I’d imagine they’ll both be battling for top tens most the season.
I’ll take Hunter, but it’s close. I think Cooper will outperform expectations. We very well could find that he’s better on the 450 than he was on the 250.
JCoop will be lucky to break the top 10, HLaw will be consistently top 10 and sometime break top 5.
This will be JCoop last year on a factory team and HLaws first of probably 7-10 years with a factory 450 ride before he retires.
Spot on with Hunter but I think your Cooper take is very unlikely…he’s coming in young and hungry after a ridiculously successful and underrated 250 career. A career that no one would have ever predicted 5-6 years ago. He seems to thrive on the underdog role though, the results of this poll show that’s what he is once again.
Stoked that all this speculation shit finally can come to an end in 6 days!
Hunter I believe has a bit more of that God given ability to be in top 5/Podium contention.
Coopers 250 career only 8 total wins to hunters 20…. Justins results are solely based on his starts which is why his podium ratio is so high. If ya go back and look or really study his results when he got a bad start he often stayed where he was or would come forward just a few positions. Compared to hunter who would come through the pack and be a contender by the end of the races.
Cooper ain't got the mental, Hunter does, that's the difference.
Cooper has a certain mentality that won’t work as a full time 450 racer
People were saying similar things before MXoN at Red Bud, after a season where he was out there basically riding on 1 foot. This past season he was questioned quite a bit too, but if not for getting the handlebar to the chest at High Point he wins the outdoor title by a significant margin.
I get why you guys are high on Hunter, but to assume Justin’s starts and ability to sprint are gonna go away on 450s is just absurd.
Hunter - always top 10, averages around top 5, probably gets on the podium, won't be shocked if he sneaks a win.
Cooper - always top 15, averages top 10, probably ends up in the top 5 once, won't be shocked if he gets a podium.
Pit Row
That sounds pretty reasonable to me, though I’d like to see Justin exceed those expectations.
I would like to see the young JCoop do well. I just don’t see it. But I’m just a fast bench racer and really have no idea. This years “field is so deep” I cannot see JCoop being a top guy. HLaw on the other hand is a bit older and has more experience managing a full season in my opinion.
Cooper is older than Hunter.
Disclaimer :
I am not a Lawrence fan
But I think it may be a long year for those not on The HRC team
unfortunately
I’d love to see Tomac battle up front but I have a hard time thinking he will be able to coming off injury
We saw less beast mode out of him last year and I can’t imagine we will see that change
And to run up front consistently I think beast mode will be necessary
Jett is coming in with a crazy amount of confidence and I’d almost guarantee his brother will be right there with him
I know he is a “ rookie” 450 guy but just for the fact they ride together and are brothers , Hunter won’t be happy losing to Jett. Which will , imo , make things difficult for the rest of the field .
I hope I’m wrong
LOL!
IMO Hunter will be top 10 every race, whilst Coop will be a 10-15th place guy all year.
DOH!!!
He sure doesn’t act like it 😀
I think this year is going to be very important for Cooper and how the rest of his career goes.
I say hunter finishes ahead of him in points though by a couple spots
They asked Hunter what he thought of a cr250 he rode. He said he prefers the cr500 and big bike. I think he’s gonna do good.
h law sounds really stupid, come up with something else.
I'm a big JCoop fan. 1 of my fav riders, but as it is right now, I have to give the edge to Hunter. I think Cooper has had some struggles since his injury. And in the 250s, I think he had an edge on Hunter with his equipment. But Hunter managed to still end up coming out on top. And outdoors he also was struggling with an injury. So with how HRC seems to have those bikes dialed in for the Lawrences, it almost seems like Hunter is on equal or better machine in the 450s. So he would be my choice. Hopefully Jcoop meshes with the bike and can also mix it up towards the front. I think both with be good but thats just my reasoning for going with Hunter. But I will be rooting for Cooper.
Hunter has the higher ceiling and I think he will ride a 450 better than a 250. Lately, Cooper’s results seem start dependent. Cooper will be a top 10/just outside top 10 guy. I can see Hunter getting some podiums.
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