Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1437138
INTERVIEW I 2021 CYCLE NEWS RIDER OF THE YEAR COOPER WEBB P90 to claim the title is what makes his 2021 championship so special. "Winning the championship this year was another dream come true," said Webb. "It definitely seemed a bit harder for me. We didn't start the year off as good as I would have liked to. As the season went along, we had to dig deep and get back into the points. I was able to get into the fight around midway and then put a really good finish to the season and was able to clinch it. This one was different in the sense of I've been there before, and I was able to win in 2019. So, you kind of have that little bit of pressure every time now that I'm on the gate to be the champion or fighting for the title contention. So, I think that was there. After last year getting second in the series and having an up-and-down year, it was just really good to get back on track and be able to win another champion- ship." In spite of a less-than-stellar outdoor season, which netted him fourth overall, Webb looks for another spectacular Supercross season in 2022. "I feel really excited and motivat- ed about the upcoming season," said Webb. "I feel like it's another opportunity to show up and be a championship contender. That's the plan right now. I've got a great team and program behind me. I'm looking forward to the challenge. Hoping I can be where I was, if not better than last year. Every year it gets tougher and tougher, but we're always ready for a chal- lenge. That's for sure." CN Webb wants to make it three in 2022. ing. When there's 10 or so guys on that gate that are capable of winning, it's definitely making it tougher. Sometimes you need to be aggressive. Sometimes you can play it smart. You never want to be dumb and be dirty, but sometimes you do have to get a little physical and do a good block pass." According to Webb, the fact that he had to come from behind " We made a setup change at Indianapolis three, after the Tuesday race. That night, I ended up getting second to Kenny. That was an overall great day. I qualified first and won my heat race and then ended up second in the main. To me that's when things definitely turned around. "