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COOPER WEBB
450 MX / 7TH
IMAGE / LANNAN WORDS / HARNISHFEGER DESIGN / TILLS
>> Many expected Cooper Webb to transition from the 250 class to the 450’s seamlessly. However, that has not quite been the case. The reigning 250 West Coast Supercross and 250 outdoor champion has had his fair share of struggles in his rookie 450 season. He suffered minor injury in supercross forcing him to miss a handful of rounds. He entered outdoors ready to reassert himself as a contender but crashes and mechanicals hurt him in the results. He could not find his groove until midway where he finished fourth and fifth and Southwick and Millville respectively. But just as he got going, he injured his shoulder and missed Washougal. He returned last weekend and picked up where he left of finishing in fourth yet again. So as the season winds down, it looks like Webb is finally getting comfortable aboard the 450.
Webb definitely looked comfortable in qualifying practice here at Budds Creek. He threw down the third fastest lap time of the morning and looked aggressive. He looked to keep his streak of three straight top fives going.
Webb did not get the greatest of starts in moto one but he was able to get out of lap one in ninth place. He made quick work of Dakota Alix to move into eighth on lap two and set his sights on a big five rider battle of Seely, Peick, Bisceglia, Musquin and Baggett. Webb slowly inched up to them and was able to throw his hat in the ring and battle by Baggett to take sev- enth. He held it for two laps until Baggett retaliated, passing him back and he brought Tomac with him. They both bounced Webb back to where he started in ninth place. From there Webb held strong the rest of the moto and tried challenging Bisceglia late in the moto but ran out of time. He’d settle for ninth on the moto. He entered moto looking to better that finish.
Cooper Webb matched his first moto start in the second by rounding lap one in ninth position. This time he leapfrogged Musquin and Bisceglia to get into seventh on lap two. He held onto the spot for several laps despite desperate attempts by Musquin to get back by. The two rid- ers battled hard until Musquin finally made a pass stick near the halfway point. Webb jumped right back to seventh the next lap after passing Team Honda HRC’s Cole Seely. After that he maintained his pace and took home seventh place. His 9-7 moto scores earned him seventh overall on the day. Not exactly what he would have liked but a pair of subpar starts hindered him. Look for him to have a better day next weekend at the season finale.
26 GRITMOTO • AUGUST 20, 2017