INTERVIEW
P58
COOPER WEBB
C
ooper Webb took over
the point standings in the
West 250 Supercross
class this weekend after claim-
ing his second win of the season
at Anaheim II. In only his second
season of AMA Supercross rac-
ing, the Yamalube/Star Racing
Yamaha rider is looking more
and more like the man to beat in
the division.
After getting off to a poor start
in the main event on Saturday
night, Webb managed to work
his way into second place
behind leader Tyler Bowers
with the laps winding down. On
the final lap of the race, hav-
ing picked out just the spot he
wanted to make a move, Webb
dove to the inside of Bowers in a
tight turn, and came out with the
lead just two turns from the fin-
ish. Bowers tried to retaliate, but
got hung up on the Tuff Blocks
and Webb rode off with the win.
"It was an exciting finish," said
Webb. "To make a pass on the
last lap was really cool. I had
a bad start and had to come
through the pack and to pass
for the lead on the last lap was
awesome."
With the tracks becoming
more difficult to pass on, getting
the start is more important than
ever. However, Webb was mid-
pack when the field exited turn
one at the start of the final.
"I just spun," he said. "I've
been having trouble wheelieing
off the line, so I tried something
different and I spun. I had a
good start in the heat, so I just
need to keep doing what I'm do-
ing and it will come around."
Twelfth after the opening lap,
Webb proceeded to pass at will
en route to the front of the pack.
"I was outside the top 10 on
the first lap and I wasn't really
expecting to win at that point,
but I just knew I needed to fight
for as many spots as possible,"
said Webb. "Partway into the
race, I was coming through the
pack and caught with Justin Hill
and we battled a little and then I
got around him for fourth. After
that, Jessy [Nelson] and Bowers
were in front of me and I just put
my head down and told myself it
was time to win."
Webb was catching the
front-runners as the laps wound
down. The only question was if
he would have enough laps to
catch Bowers and make a pass
for the lead.
Most of the pre-season hype went to names
like Bowers and Hill, but Cooper Webb makes
the point that he's the guy to beat
PROVING A POINT
STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAN MOORE
Cooper Webb
is riding the
momentum from
back-to-back
250 SX wins.
