SUPERCROSS
MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS, AN FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
P52
BY STEVE COX
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB KOY
T
he last time two team-
mates were 1-2 in the
Supercross Champion-
ship this late in the series was
28 years ago. Back in 1991, it
was Honda's Jeff Stanton and
Jean-Michel Bayle battling for
the title, and their dislike for
each other is legendary. But
today, it's another Frenchman,
Marvin Musquin, and his Red
Bull KTM teammate Cooper
Webb in a heated battle for
the championship. And it all
came to a head in Houston.
In the first main event of
the night and in the third and
final Triple Crown event of the
season, the two raced ag-
gressively until Webb shoved
Musquin off the track, giving
their team manager, Ian Harri-
son, heart palpitations. But in
the end, Webb emerged with
his sixth victory of the year, his
second Triple Crown victory
of the season, and the 2019
Triple Crown Championship,
while also extending his points
lead to 17 over his teammate
with four rounds left to run.
In the 250SX West class,
Dylan Ferrandis (Monster En-
ergy/Yamalube/Star Racing
Yamaha) capitalized on points
leader Adam Cianciarulo's
mistakes to take his second
win of the year, and in a row,
and pull to within five points of
Cianciarulo in the title chase.
It should all go down to the
wire in Las Vegas.
450SX
The fireworks started early in
the first of three 450SX main
events. While Ken Roczen ran
off with the early lead, Mus-
quin went at it with champi-
onship rival Webb very early
on the opening lap, forcing
his way by the points leader
and then drifting right toward
Webb through the ensuing
whoop section, as Webb
set up to have the inside on
the next right-hand corner.
Webb didn't take too kindly
to it. Over the next few laps,
Webb hounded Musquin, as
Eli Tomac (Monster Energy
Kawasaki) gave chase.
Roczen (Honda HRC) con-
tinued out front looking like
ROUND 13 / MARCH 30, 2019
NRG STADIUM / HOUSTON, TEXAS
WITH FIVE
ROUNDS
LEFT
TO RUN,
THERE ARE
NO MORE
NICE GUYS,
OR TEAM-
MATES
In Houston,
Cooper Webb
fought battles
that usually win
championships.
We'll know in four
more races if it
pays off.
