COOPER WEBB | GRIT-212 | 450SX

COOPER WEBB | GRIT-212 | SX 450

Many in the crowd of Lucas Oil Stadium would choose Cooper Webb as a betting favorite, as the track began to deteriorate early on in qualification on Saturday. Webb had been on fire as of late, and the rutted soil of Indiana was certainly set to play into his hand. Practice would begin with mistake free riding, where Webb's vision was "one of one" and his patented cutting-down from various corners would be exhibited throughout a multitude of bends. His ability to plant and pivot the KTM chassis was next level, leading to sixth-place on the final leaderboard being established prior to beginning heat one. He would do his best to edge ahead of Ken Roczen and Justin Barcia as the divisional round started, but both opponents were steadfast in their pursuit of the green flag. Webb's superb line selection would result in pass made on Adam Cianciarulo, which propelled him into the lead with Roczen, Barcia, and the Kawasaki rider now behind him. Though his designation at the front of the field was short lived and Roczen would pass him at the end of the whoop section. This deterred him to second, where Justin Barcia did much the same (on the next circuit) however in the beginning of the whoop section! Now third, all seemed to be well until a mistake on the last lap would push Webb to fourth, where he hoped for redemption in the finalé. The track was marred to an unrecognizable degree at this point, with Webb doing his best to slide through the ruts (while passing Adam Cianciaurlo) for second in the initial moments. He would attempt to track down Ken Roczen who was out front, but had to recognize Chase Sexton's resilience which eventually led to him descending to third around the eighteen minute mark. After being passed by the Honda rider in the whoops, he would present a multitude of counters into the area of Sexton; but Chase wasn't going to falter, or at least it seemed like that. Five minutes had just transpired and then disaster would strike the Honda rider, sending him to the ground with Webb now pushing past and into second! With a plethora of points now at his disposal, it was a race of salvaging (in regard to the championship) rather than an outright win. But Justin Barcia would have other thoughts, and proceeded to try and attack the KTM rider in a multitude of ways. Which led to a slight mistake being made on behalf of Webb with a little under twelve minutes to go. He and Barcia would collided at the end of the whoop section after Webb's mid-mogul speed would falter, with Barcia now moving around the outside. The number fifty-one would never look back, and as the laps then progressed, it was apparent that Webb was going to salvage as many points as possible with Tomac behind him and Chase undergoing the unfortunate crash. Consistency would be the defining label for Webb's main event narrative, holding strong in third throughout the minutes that followed and ultimately as he passed the checkered flag as well.

More from GRIT