GRIT 301 — 450SX 3rd — Cooper Webb

Fans in Glendale for Yamaha's Cooper Webb throughout the event on Saturday. The native of North Carolina embodied remarkable tenacity on the motorcycle, which translated to enthusiasm from those in attendance. As Webb swept through the Arizona racetrack, his momentum aboard the two-wheel(ed) machine was undeniable — and he again, reiterated that he was much more than an "East Coast" specialist...as his trajectory through the hard-packed(ed) and faster areas of the course, were on-par with the other championship contenders of the category. In many of the toughest bowl turns, his speed was second-to-none — and he strove to continue excelling, as heat number one transpired within the night show program. After clicking into gear, he surged from the starting area with an unwavering sense of focus. He advanced to a standing of fifth, and remained here for two laps. At that stage, he would (briefly) surpass Justin Cooper for fourth. However, his teammate returned with a pass of his own — though simultaneously, Webb would surpass Christian Craig! It was a notable series of shuffle(s), which ultimately led to Cooper residing fourth, only bike lengths behind the number thirty-two machine, at the finish line. Consistency was a key component at this stage of the series, and many fans of the former champion knew that he was destined to continue ascending as the series moved forward. Cooper's initial advancements throughout the main event were superb, and he had navigated into third (passing Vince Friese) well before the first lap was completed. His intensity was spectacular, and despite the layout of Phoenix not necessarily being one of his strong suits, the Yamaha rider continued to nullify those sentiments. He powered ahead through the halfway and three-quarter mark(s) — firmly establishing himself as a threat for an overall podium. And when the checkered flag was thrown for this Southwestern event, it was Webb who took the bronze medal standing!