Page 54 - Issue45

Cooper Webb
450 SX / 9TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / KUHLHOFF DESIGN / WILSON
>> With only two rounds remaining, stakes were high for the fifteenth round
in Salt Lake City, Utah. After an eighth place finish in Seattle, Monster Energy/ Yamalube rider Cooper Webb arrived in Salt Lake looking to capitalize. The North Carolina native lined up for his heat with hopes of staying within the top four transfer positions. High altitudes may have been causing a shortage of air, but there was no lack of excitement within the Rice-Eccles Stadium as the gates dropped for heat race number two. Webb found himself in the eighth place spot early in the race, but was able to pass into seventh before the checkered flag. Still three positions outside of a transfer spot, Webb had some work to do if he wanted to line up for the Main Event. A start straightaway the length of the entire football stadium stretched out before riders as they lined up for the second 450 Semi race of the evening, and without a solid berm to catch them, hugging the inside and getting a great start was crucial on this short and tight track. After a great start, Webb was able to finish in a very comfortable third place spot, well within the Main Event qualifying positions. Things seemed to be shaping up
well in “the State of Sport”. With end of the season intensity and incredible track conditions laid out before their eyes, fans and racers alike were ready for racing. Cooper Webb and his number 2 machine lined up on a rutted starting gate for what would be an intense 26+ lap moto. The 30 second board went up, and the riders were off. Right off the bat, Webb found himself sitting in fifteenth, some- where he did not want to be. Cooper Webb showed resilience as he started to make his way through the pack and within the next few laps the Yamaha had found tenth place right behind Blake Baggett. Finally with only one lap remaining, Cooper dug even deeper and was able to make a move on Wilson and finished in ninth place. Ninth may have not been exactly where Cooper Webb wanted to be, but what a commendable catch up. Great riding by Webb, and hopefully he can pull off another finish within the top ten at round sixteen in The Garden State.
54 GRITMOTO • APRIL 23, 2017