tensed up a bit during the race,
which he attributed to his earlier
intense heat race with Savatgy.
He said he tightened up in that
race and never really loosened
up much from it by the time the
main got underway.
Webb opened up a small lead
and was never really challenged
again by Craig. Webb took the
checkered flag two seconds
ahead of Craig.
"I came out of the gate strong
and tucked to the inside through
the first turn," said Webb.
"Throughout the race I was slow-
ly able to gain time on Christian
[Craig], eventually making a pass
stick to claim the win."
"It's a bit disappointing to fin-
ish second tonight," said Craig,
who now has five consecutive
podium finishes. "Webb rode
great, but after leading the first 11
laps I was really gunning for the
win."
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
VOL. 53 ISSUE 7 FEBRUARY 23, 2016 P43
pointment when he crossed the
finish line.
Craig later admitted that he
moved over on Savatgy on pur-
pose but did so just to block his
line, not to take him out. "Un-
fortunately I knocked him
down," Craig said. "I didn't
mean to; I just tried to take
the inside line because
I knew he was coming.
I thought I made the pass
and then I heard him coming to
the left of me, and there was a
left-hander coming up so I knew
I had to block that inside right
away or he was going to take me
high. I jumped into the second
set of whoops and I moved over
pretty quick. If not, I would have
gotten taken high for sure. He
was going for it. I ended up tak-
ing him out. It's unfortunate. I
don't like being a dirty rider but
it's a racing incident. It happens.
I'm sure he would have cut over,
too. I didn't mean to cut over
as hard as I did, but, you know,
you're in the mode of racing and
pass, pass, pass, so you don't
think at the time, really. You're
just thinking: Get in front and get
over."
Craig suddenly found himself
with a fairly substantial lead over
Webb, who inherited second
when Savatgy crashed. Craig
seemed in control of the race,
or that Webb was just taking his
time, but not much happened
until about the 10
th
lap when
Webb all of a sudden started
gaining on Craig. Almost instant-
ly, Webb was right on him and
then pulled the trigger, making
an aggressive but clean pass on
Craig.
"I made two big mistakes,"
Craig said. "I pushed the front
end and hit a couple of rocks
and he got me pretty easily."
Craig also admitted that he
Cooper Webb got
back on track in
Texas to record
his fourth win.
(Inset) Joey Sa-
vatgy went flying
after tangling with
Christian Craig.
