SUPERCROSS
MONSTER ENERGY AMA SUPERCROSS, AN FIM WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 6 / FEBRUARY 13, 2016
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA / PETCO PARK
P50
COOPER WEBB
It's sometimes easy to forget
that only last year Yamalube/
Star Racing Yamaha's Cooper
Webb was being criticized on
occasion for riding too aggres-
sively. Specifically against his
friend Tyler Bowers, who was a
top championship contender for
the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit
Kawasaki team. But this year, if
anything, Webb might be ac-
cused of being too nice.
At Anaheim 2, it took Webb
a very, very long time to get
around race leader Christian
Craig, and Craig repeatedly
pushed Webb high and nearly
took him out on multiple occa-
sions before Webb was able to
find his way by and make the
pass stick. At the time, many
were convinced that Webb was
going to take Craig out, but he
didn't. Craig did similarly in Ari-
zona, and although Webb had a
few opportunities to put Craig on
the ground, he again refrained,
but this time he lost the race
after he fell trying to find a way
around Craig without being too
rough.
And then in San Diego, he
was, once again, faster than
race leader Joey Savatgy, and
again found himself trying to
pass cleanly and ended up going
down, losing yet another race.
When this pattern was point-
ed out to Webb, we asked if he
had been working on racing
cleaner, and if he might change
that in the coming races.
"We've actually been talking
about racing cleaner," Webb
said. "I've been trying to be
pretty mellow and a little more
laid back this year, but I don't
know. We'll have to see. If it
comes down to it, I'm sure I can
be my old self."
After three straight losses,
and the disappointment that
comes with them, look for
Webb to be significantly more
aggressive in Texas next week-
end.
Cooper Webb is still
right in the middle
of the championship
chase, but he finds
himself trailing by
three points going
into Arlington, Texas,
for round seven.
