VOLUME 56 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 17, 2019 P109
podiums, but it's Marv's team, and that type of
deal," Webb said. "I don't think it's really like that,
though. I think it's what a lot of people think. Per-
sonally, I like it. In the 250 class, me and Jeremy
Martin were always teammates. We always had re-
spect for each other, but I felt like it made us better
riders. Being teammates, we were always raising
the bar on each other. There were a lot of things
that I did great, and there were a lot of things that
he did great. I think that's similar to how it is with
Marv and I now. We're with each other training and
riding every day and we get along and that's great,
but there's still our competi-
tive side where we both want
to win and achieve our goals.
So it's a tough line, but I think
that it's raised our level, in my
opinion. He is a great rider
and there's a lot of things that
I can learn from him, and I
feel like vice versa; there's
stuff that maybe I do well
that he can learn from. So it
doesn't work for everybody
and it is a tough thing. I think
as a racer you always want
a teammate that's never a
threat, but at the end of the
day, I don't think that makes
you a better racer."
WHERE TO FROM HERE
Webb has defended a championship in the
past, in the 250cc class, with almost identical re-
sults between 2015 and 2016. That's not uncom-
mon as the 250cc class is split into two coasts
and the field isn't quite so deep. But defending a
title in the 450cc class is another thing altogether.
And, as is typical for Cooper Webb, he really
looks forward to the challenge and plans to face
it, like he does everything else, head-on.
"It's never going to get easier," Webb says. "I
think this year is totally different than last year, and
it's a new approach; it's a new everything. Last
year, getting back to the beginning of our interview,
there was no expectation and now there's tremen-
dous expectation. I don't really mind that. I think it's
part of it. I think being a champion does come with
expectations. It's something that you have to deal
with and work on. I'm looking forward to that. I real-
ly am. Obviously, I think everybody is going to be a
year stronger and a year better and learn from their
mistakes. I'm hoping, for me, this is my second
year on the bike and with the team and just being
more comfortable and I think my fitness being bet-
ter, and also I was able to achieve that champion-
ship last year and I know what it takes to ultimately
do that. So I think, for me, the confidence is pretty
high, but also just the mindset of knowing that I've
done it and what it takes. I kind of have an idea
now. So, the championship is the goal, but I think
I'm going to go in like last year and just do the best
I can and try to be up there every race. Whatever
happens, happens. I'm looking forward to this year,
for sure. Every weekend is going to be a different
scenario, so I think just putting yourself in the best
situation every weekend is what's important."
Hey, it worked once already, right? CN
