COOPER WEBB - GRIT 243 450SX

GRIT-243 |450 SX

Yamaha's Cooper Webb arrived at the venue for round nine of the series, with a serious demeanor and outlook that embodied striving for the championship. Webb knew that he was within striking distance of this title, and valued every point that separated he and Jett Lawrence as the halfway point (of the SX championship) was completed. Following a notable practice effort, Webb would start his engine alongside countless top-tier opponents for heat number two of the evening. Off the start, he, Eli Tomac and Jett Lawrence would all contend for the hole-shot...but he proceeded to reside within the runner-up category while the Honda athlete (i.e. Lawrence) stayed roughly a second or two behind him. Webb seemed comfortable running this pace, while maintaining the distance between he and the rookie phenom. Tomac was on a trajectory of his own per se, and wasn't going to slow down for anything or anyone...however, it was within the last two circuits, where the narrative for second seemed to become a bit more aggressive. Lawrence then put forth a stellar move in the rollers where he passed the North Carolina native, but Cooper was quick to retaliate. There was a sense of urgency that Cooper possessed when the Honda rider was in front of him (on multiple occasions for the evening), but at this stage of the night show, the desire wouldn't necessarily end positively. Cooper would triple out of the following rhythm lane, while Lawrence tucked his machine to the inside in the corner thereafter...causing Webb to hit Lawrence's motorcycle and crash to the ground! Rebounding for fourth as the checkered flag waved, Webb wanted redemption for the main event thereafter. While battling amongst the first corner (for the final), Webb appeared to be situated in a position of second, just behind Jett Lawrence - until disaster would nearly strike! The Monster Energy thirty-second cardboard holder would remain on the racetrack, and unfortunately Webb would clip her while trying to dodge and divert out of the way! Luckily, both seemed to be okay, and Webb remained upright losing minimal time. Still in second, he remained within a multi-second margin of Jett for the duration of the moto...constantly lunging forward while cutting down amongst bowl turns - showing acclimation to the red clay of Alabama as minutes continually passed. Though Ken Roczen remained persistent in third, the runner-up position was definitively his...and as the checkered flag waved, Webb finished just behind Lawrence while still within the hunt for the highest of accolades.

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