race recap
COOPER WEBB | GRIT-210 | 450SX
March 3, 2023 · Cooper Webb
COOPER WEBB | GRIT-210 | SX 450
The sly antics of Cooper Webb would once again lead to victory as the Triple Crown came to fruition in Arlington. The KTM rider's ability to stay consistent amongst chaotic circumstances, and to pounce forward at the expense of other riders mistake(s) would be a narrative that was once again written in the record books for round seven of this 2023 SX championship. Beginning with practice, Webb remained a threat, but all in the industry knew that the North Carolina native would rise to the occasion as stakes grew higher throughout the night show. This translated into the first-moto, where it seemed as though it took a bit for Webb to actualize his speed while simultaneously learning the ways of the track and how it was going to break down. Beginning around the tenth-place position, he would move forward a few positions before being passed by Chase Sexton; which contrarily, didn't rattle him as many would assume. Planted in sixth, he found a comfortable flow amid the sprint of sorts, which allowed him to eventually overtake Aaron Plessinger (for fifth) just before the checkered flag was thrown. Cemented inside the top-five, he was destined to continue climbing as the night progressed. For moto number two, Webb's determination would lead to a masterful hole-shot being accrued while he tried his best to sprint away from Jason Anderson. The New Mexico native looked to strike as quickly as possible, but Webb retained the lead for a good while...until there was around ten-minutes and forty-seconds remaining on the clock. Anderson (at that point) saw a window of opportunity to pass by and darted to the inside of Webb before the whoops, making the pass stick amongst the moguls that followed. Now residing in the runner-up designation, he would keep Chase Sexton at bay for the duration of the race to claim second prior to the finalé beginning. With the overall win on the line, it was then that Cooper Webb rose to the top with his legendary championship pedigree. Webb lingered around the top-five to begin, but steadily moved forward as others began to falter. With Justin Barcia going off track, it was then a fourth-place occupancy before Eli Tomac's wash-out would result in an inherited position as well; boosting his standing, to inside the top-three! Next, it was Jason Anderson; who made a mistake in the whoops, with under three minutes remaining before the white flag and allowed the number two to grasp the runner-up designation as the final circuit neared. It was time to throw the "Hail Mary" of sorts, with just above one-minute and thirty-second(s) remaining on the clock; where the crowd waited with anticipation to see if Webb could overtake Sexton. With lap traffic getting in his way (Sexton, that is), Webb would take advantage and dart to the inside in the corner before the tunnel-jump! With no choice but to abide, Sexton would relinquish the moto victory and grant it to Cooper Webb; who was deemed victorious, and took the overall win as well!