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COOPER WEBB
450 MX / 5TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / MATTINGLY DESIGN / TILLS
>> Rolling into the hills of Millville, a grotesque monster awaits in the middle-ground of the Spring Creek MX track. Bombarding both fans and riders a like, his hopping antics are that to get all in attendance excited to the highest extent. Cooper Webb thrives for this type of thrill. He awaits the moment he cranks the holeshot, leading the pack and the whoop monster is raging with the chain saw. He set the tone early in practice, blasting through the mounds of sand rivaling the Sahara, all the while flicking the wrist with a swift toss while skying over the numerous tabletops around the landscape. He positioned himself well for the inaugural line-up, a subtle point
to his gate and acknowledgement of his mechanic. The rut was short, not too much chop, and straight; just what he needed to thrive. It worked, as he shot out of the cannon, banging through the gearbox down the stretch. Dicing hard in the opening laps, he was fighting amongst Tomac and Baggett for the eighth place position. This wasn’t anything like the 250’s of old, as each member of this pack had replicated his efforts, just a few years before. The Yamaha had a bit of headshake, but it wasn’t enough to scare the Carolina native. The swagger of old was showing its head again at times, as he would battle tooth and nail with Cole Seely nearing the halfway point of the moto. Making his way around, he would trail the surging Dean Wilson at the line, knowing he had more to give in the fourth place position. Lucky number seven was the ride for the opening laps, holding hear for a good chunk of the moto, as he, Barcia, and Davalos would act as a caravan, latching onto each other. At times three wide, it was almost as if the waffle on their grips would clash in respective corners, and no one was backing off. Webb would prevail, his tenacity coming to the fore- front, but the maturity of his peers would be enough for them to push past. Ninth at the checkered flag, the two scores would combine for fifth overall.
20 GRITMOTO • JULY 23, 2017