Tuesday Toolbox: Cooper Jones

GNCC Racing: Let’s begin where it all started. When did you start riding? What was your first bike? When did you start racing, and what was your first GNCC? 

Cooper Jones: I started riding when I was three in the front yard of my house. My first bike was a Honda 50. I started racing when I was four. My first GNCC was at Unadilla, and actually, that was the first race I ever did.

Watkins Glen was your hometown race, and you came away with the Top Amateur Overall after making the winning pass with just three corners remaining. Walk us through that battle and what it meant to get that win at home.

It was super awesome. I had about 100 friends and family members there, and they were all at the finish. I knew that Watkins Glen was a race to win, if I could win any. So, I’m happy I got that done. 

You followed that up at Snowshoe with another strong ride, finishing third overall amateur and second in the 250 A class. How much confidence have those last couple of races given you heading into the summer break and the second half of the season?

Yeah, those races have given me tons of confidence, honestly. This summer break, I’ve been working super hard to come out swinging at the last three races that I’m going to be doing.

You've had some of your strongest performances in muddy conditions, from earning the Top Amateur Overall at Big Buck to another impressive ride at

Snowshoe. What is it about muddy races that seems to suit your riding style? I just think it's because I’m tall. I just sit down, put my legs out, hold it wide open, and use my legs to keep me upright and float across everything. 

This year, you're the only rider returning to Team USA's Junior Trophy Team for the FIM International 6 Days Enduro. What does it mean to have the opportunity to represent the United States again, and what did you learn from last years’ experience on the Junior Trophy Team? 

It’s an honor to get picked again. I did really well at the U.S. Spring enduros this year, and I knew I had a good chance of getting picked again. So, I was happy when I found out that I was picked.

When I got picked last year, I kind of got lucky because (Jason) Tino unfortunately got hurt, and they needed a guy. Last year I was kind of, in a way, unprepared.  I kind of got my butt handed to me, but this year, I know what to expect, and it should be a lot better.

What has your preparation looked like over summer break for 6 Days and the rest of the GNCC races that you are doing? 

I took a couple of weeks off after Snowshoe, then I went down to the Aus Ranch and trained with Gus, Liam, Lyndon and they whooped me back into shape and that's pretty much it. I’ve just been grinding and doing my thing. 

What are your goals for this year’s 6 Days, both personally and for Team USA?

My personal goal is to be a top five overall junior trophy rider. As a team, I mean, obviously, we want to go over there and win, but to even stand on that podium in a one-two-three would be amazing! 

What's something fans may not realize about competing at the 6 Days?

People don’t realize how gnarly it is. It’s six days of racing. Really, it's only five days of racing because the last day is a motocross day. In those five days, we put 40 hours on our bikes, and some days we do 150 miles a day. People don’t realize how mentally and physically exhausting it all is.  

Sitting sixth in the 250A points standings heading into the second half of the season, what are you hoping to accomplish over the final rounds of the GNCC season?

At the beginning of the season, I had a lot of issues that held me back from being in the 250A championship. As the last three rounds go, I’m stepping out of 250A and moving up to XC2. It’s going to be a big jump for me, but it should be good!