Anderson and Cooper on Top in Florida Qualifying

The Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship is back in Florida for the first time in 22 years, and qualifying for the US Assure Florida National at WW Ranch Motocross Park has just wrapped up. The Jacksonville sand track is poised to provide a significant challenge to the world's fastest riders during the fifth round of the season, as they all look to become the winner of the first National at the championship's newest venue.

A pair of qualifying sessions gave riders their first look at the WW Ranch layout, and in the end Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing's Jason Anderson and Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing's Justin Cooper sat atop the time sheets. It's the second straight weekend that Anderson has paced the 450 Class, and his time of 2:08.178 came following a blistering lap in the final session. He's eight tenths clear of Team Honda HRC's Ken Roczen, who ended up second, and more than a second quicker than Monster Energy Kawasaki's Eli Tomac in third. Anderson hopes back-to-back weeks of top qualifying times can possibly carry him to a first career Pro Motocross victory.

Over in the 250 Class, Cooper became the first rider of the 2019 season to earn multiple fastest qualifiers. Four different riders had topped the charts entering Florida, but Cooper doubled up on his earlier top qualifier at Fox Raceway several weeks ago. Speed has always come easy for the Yamaha rider, and he continues to inch closer towards the first professional win of his career. His time of 2:09.461 was fourth tenths quicker than his Star Yamaha teammate Dylan Ferrandis, while championship leader Adam Cianciarulo followed just under a second back in third.