Page 16 - Issue_67

COOPER WEBB
450 SX / 4TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> When you think about the Southern Florida weather, you picture the true mugginess this equator-esque state brings to the table. While many areas of the country are both submerged under feet of water and snow, the residents of Tampa are constantly wiping their brow, with streams of sweat pouring down. Their notion of Supercross is that of the same; they expect steamy, ery action on the track, and that’s exactly what Cooper Webb was hoping to provide. All throughout practice, his 450 was mimicking that of a Harley on the at-track circuit, his chassis swinging to the left, as he swept out of the over-under; and then back to the right, as he scurried down the straightaway. Leaving his shirttail un-tucked, for a little bit of breeze in this melting pot of a track, the only thing cooling off was that of the engine, upon shutdown. As he would absolutely blister the eld, leav-
ing the Florida turf smoking as he rolled off the canvas, and out of harm’s way. His heat race efforts would mimic that of practice, cutting over down the start-straight, and into
the opening left, absolutely pinned. Looking to move forward, and fast, he uncorked the two-triple entendre. Hitting the switchback shortly there after like a slot car. Zig-zagging in and out of this short track, it was all he could do to keep the 450 beneath him. With Justin Hill working his way around Marvin Musquin, the two quickest were just ahead. He would grip the shrouds as if they were molded with glue, his knees begging for a bit of a break; there would be none of that, as he would stand, pivoting all the way to the nish, taking third. The main event saw a eld of rabid dogs lunging for the ever so luscious bone that dangled at the white stripe. They all wanted the steak at the end, however, and he was as hungry as ever. Taking the holeshot, but battling early on with Tomac, it was Webb who would quickly move into the lead. Making similar consecutive mistakes, a few lapses of focus found both Tomac and Musquin moving by. Carving into the left-handed rut, just passed the mechanics area, his footpeg would etch little by little into the ground. His technique would remain on point, following those rst few hiccups, even though he was feeling a bit of heat from both Peick and Tickle who were behind. Ripping around the n- ish line corner, the right handed bowl-turn was one of his strong points, as he would ick the machine to scrub speed over the double’s crest. As the race would come to a close, he seemed to have fourth place sewed up; it would remain true, and at the nish line, he would just be a hair off of the podium, ready for the next round.
16 GRITMOTO • FEBRUARY 25, 2018