COOPER WEBB | GRIT-209 | 450SX

COOPER WEBB | GRIT-209 | SX 450

An incredible competitor in every facet of motocross racing, Cooper Webb's tactician-like persona would again rare its head while action at RingCentral Coliseum came to fruition. He knew he had the longevity to compete for this title, and after his phenomenal performance in Tampa, there were few who could refute his odds to contend for the title after it was all said and done. He had to focus on the here and now though, and carved a niche in practice that embodied cutting down from various berms while hugging countless insides on the Oakland circuit. Though the whoops would toggle between being jumped through and skimmed, those in his corner believed he had the necessary skill(s) to succeed regardless of how the track would turn out at night's end. His confidence spewed into the heat race, where he, Chase Sexton, and Eli Tomac were grouped together; creating a battle that was reminiscent of the championship, long before the main event ever began. Webb would hang onto the lead for the first three circuits, though it was evident his momentum in the whoops was just off the pace of the two aforementioned riders. However he stayed the course and continued to exhibit all in his arsenal while aspiring to the checkered flag. Overtaken by both of those rivals before lap four, he would maintain the third-place designation from there on out...creating quite the sense of aggression prior to moving to the main event. Once here, it was game-on with a deteriorating track at his fingertips. Webb would battle with Eli Tomac for second, but the speed of the Yamaha combatant was too much to contain while they powered toward the halfway point. "Long-gone," was that of Chase Sexton, who was riding sensationally at the front of the pack. Webb though, would begin exhibiting brilliant pathways on the Oakland course, including a masterful triple in (and over) sequence in the lane just beside the finish-line. This would allow him to steadily remain engaged with the leaders, prior to Chase Sexton crashing to the ground before the thirteenth circuit! Webb smelt blood in the water, and would pounce on the Illinois resident as he attempted to regain his momentum. The opportunity to overtake the Honda rider would occur with three laps left in the competition, as Cooper leapt to the inside just before the finish-line double! Slamming the door shut, it was now up to Webb to see if he could track down Tomac. With persistence, that opportunity would come on the last lap as Tomac would venture off track...and with everything he had, Cooper exhibited one final surge to jump past the red-plate holder in the closing moments! Though just short, the confidence of Webb would flourish while he accrued second place overall.

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