Monster Energy Star Racing Yamaha’s Justin Cooper is sitting out this year’s SuperMotocross World Championship Playoff rounds. The team says he’s had “limited time to prepare for the upcoming SMX World Championship Playoffs” and is now shifting “focus to his 2027 campaign”. Last year Cooper was the only rider to race every round of the AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross championships while also competing in the FIM Motocross of Nations for Team USA. He suffered a serious concussion during round two of the 2026 Pro Motocross Championship at Hangtown but later returned to action at Unadilla. Cooper did not race the remaining rounds of the series.
“It’s disappointing to miss the SMX playoffs,” Cooper said. “My goal was to be back on the gate in Ohio, but unfortunately I just don’t have enough preparation on the bike to go racing at the level I know I’m capable of. I’m going to focus on getting back to full fitness so that I can come back fighting at the front in 2027.”
“We were hoping to have Justin back for the playoffs, but without having much time on the bike, the best decision was to focus on the 2027 season and have him back fighting up front,” added Wil Hahn, team manager for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 effort.
