Cooper Webb makes it two wins in two weeks at San Diego Supercross.
After claiming his second victory in as many rounds of the 2016 Monster Energy AMA 250SX West Supercross Series, Yamalube/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Cooper Webb summed up his performance in the 15-lap main event in about as succinct a manner as one could expect.
“I just hate losing,” Webb said. “We don’t want to get second.”
That was clearly a motivator as the 20-year-old defending AMA 250SX West Champion from North Carolina came from behind all evening, overcoming a poor start in his heat race to transfer into the 15-lap main event via a third-place finish and then coming from near the tail end of the top 10 in the main event to pass his way into the lead and take the win by 3.1 seconds.
When the 250SX main event got underway, GEICO Honda’s Jordon Smith pulled the holeshot, followed by teammate Jimmy Decotis, first heat race winner Joey Savatgy on the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki, second heat race winner Zach Osborne on the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna and another GEICO Honda ridden by Christian Craig. Webb, meanwhile, was mired in eighth place. Decotis was the first rider to run into trouble, washing out the front end and crashing at the end of the first rhythm section on lap two. He would remount in 11th place.
Webb was already up to sixth place and making time, running just over 4 seconds off the lead as he tagged onto the back of a freight train containing Savatgy, Craig and Mitchell Oldenburg on lap three. He then quickly moved past Oldenburg and also dispensed with Craig at the start of lap four, taking a second off of Smith with just five laps in the books. Webb then cut underneath Savatgy to take over fourth place just before the whoop section lap six at about the same time that Osborne passed Smith for the lead.
Webb was just 1.7 seconds off the lead when he shot by Smith through the first rhythm section on lap eight, giving him plenty of time to run down Osborne. Savatgy also moved past Smith to take over third place. It took Webb about three laps to close in on Osborne, and he took the lead by cutting to the inside of Osborne in a right-hand corner and pinching the door shut on the exit. Osborne tried to retaliate with a similar move in the very next turn, but the wily Webb cut back underneath Osborne and gained even more of an advantage by taking the smoother left line through the whoop section.
That was about all she wrote as Osborne then dropped from third to sixth after hooking a rut and looping out over a jump in one of the rhythm sections. Webb went on to earn his eighth career 250cc SX West victory and remain undefeated in his title defense thus far in 2016.
“Last year this is where I got hurt, so I think that was a little bit in my head today, but I pulled my head out of my butt and decided to get it done in that main,” Webb said. “It wasn’t a great start at all, which was a real shame, but it was cool to come through the pack and pass all the guys like that. It got late in the race before I made the pass [for the lead], so it was another late-race charge. But, you know, I’m just stoked to be back up here.”
Savatgy wound up second as a result of Osborne’s fall, but the Kawasaki man said he was not happy with second place.
“We were up here [on the podium] a lot last year, thirds and stuff, and that’s good, but, man, we’re close. Honestly. That was my race to lose. I should have made stuff happen a little bit sooner in the race, should’ve charged a little bit sooner. That’s my fault. There is no reason why we shouldn’t have won tonight. We had a great start. We were up there. I felt like we had the speed. We stayed close with those guys, just [had] a few little mistakes here and there. Obviously first is a lot better than second, but I’ll take it. We’re getting the ball rolling and the momentum going.”
Third place marked the 19-year-old Smith’s first career AMA 250SX podium in only his fifth career supercross start.
“I’ve got to give it up to my whole crew,” Smith said. “They’ve done an amazing job this year. The bike is getting off to great starts. I’m just putting myself in good positions…I’m just ready to keep the ball rolling.”
2016 Monster Energy AMA 250SX West Supercross Series
Petco Park
San Diego, California
Results: January 16, 2016 (Round 2 of 9)
1. Cooper Webb-Yam
2. Joey Savatgy-Kaw
3. Jordon Smith-Hon
4. Christian Craig-Hon
5. Colt Nichols-Yam
6. Zach Osborne-Hus
7. Kyle Peters-Hon
8. Jimmy Decotis-Hon
9. Kyle Cunningham-Suz
10. Chris Alldredge-Kaw
11. Alex Martin-Yam
12. Cole Thompson-KTM
13. Michael Leib-Yam
14. Trevor Reis-Yam
15. Mitchell Oldenburg-KTM
16. Cole Martinez-Yam
17. Chris Howell-Hus
18. Zachary Commans-KTM
19. Scott Champion-Yam
20. Bracken Hall-Hon
21. Hayden Mellross-Yam
22. Mitchell Harrison-Yam
2016 Monster Energy AMA 250SX West Series Points Standings (after 2 of 9 rounds)
1. Cooper Webb-50/2 wins
2. Jordon Smith-36
3. Joey Savatgy-35
Zach Osborne-35
5. Jimmy DeCotis-31
6. Colt Nichols-30
7. Kyle Peters-25
Alex Martin-25
9. Jessy Nelson-22
Christian Craing-22
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