Webb Wins, Savatgy Falters at Dallas 250SX West Supercross

Cooper Webb claims his fourth win of the season while rival Joey Savatgy hits the ground and loses the 250SX West series points lead at AT&T Stadium.

Yamalube/Star Racing/Yamaha’s Cooper Webb got back in the win column while Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy saw his chances for the 2016 Monster Energy AMA 250SX West Supercross Championship take a serious turn for the worse during round seven of the series at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, tonight.

Savatgy came into the Arlington race with a three-point lead over Webb in the series points standings after winning the San Diego II round last weekend, but that lead evaporated early in the 22-rider main event. GEICO Honda’s Christian Craig grabbed the early lead in the race, with Savatgy and Webb running second and third, ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Zach Osborne, and it appeared as if Texas supercross fans would be entertained by a four-rider battle among the top contenders for the crown. Savatgy immediately passed Craig and took control in the very next rhythm section as the pack soared over the tunnel jump and led lap number one.

But then Savatgy drifted wide on the slick Arlington track and allowed Craig to retake the lead as they headed into the whoops. What happened next may have a huge impact on the championship outcome as Savatgy tried to charge past Craig in the second half of the whoop section, only to tag the Honda rider’s rear wheel and crash. Savatgy went to the ground in violent fashion with Webb having to maneuver wide to avoid running over him. Savatgy would rejoin the race near the tail end of the field.

That left Craig out front, but Webb rode a patient game as the two pulled clear of Osborne, waiting until lap 11 before diving underneath Craig in a flat left-hand corner and taking the lead. Craig was unable to answer back, and Webb rolled on to claim his fourth win of the year. More importantly, he retook the series lead. Webb now has 145 points and is 11 points ahead of Savatgy, who fought his way back to 10th in the main event.

“We got really close,” Webb later said of his near tangle with Savatgy. “Unfortunately, they [Craig and Savatgy] got together, and he [Savatgy] went flying. That’s never good. The first lap, you know, there’s a lot of bikes. I tried to miss him, tried to hop him, and I did. But you know it was an awesome race. Christian was riding awesome, and he is really keeping me honest. I knew it was going to be a fun race if I could get close enough, but I never really could get close enough until later. I picked up on a triple over there, and I think that kind of helped me. I was able to get around him. So this was an awesome night. I’m back to being up here on the top spot. A lot of people said I was choking, so I guess that’ll prove ‘em [wrong].”

Craig, who finished second, 1.9 seconds behind Webb, said that he ran into trouble well before the main event after he forgot to breathe and rode tight in his heat race.

“I tried to relax for the main event, and I got off to an awesome holeshot—GEICO Honda is six of seven with holeshots,” Craig said. “Joey got me at the beginning, and then I made the pass, and unfortunately I took him down, which I didn’t mean to. I tried to take the inside lines because I knew he was coming. It’s unfortunate. I don’t like taking people down. I plugged my laps away. I was watching the lap board, and it got up to 11, and I started thinking, ‘All right, I’ve got this.’ Then I think right when I said that I made two big mistakes. I pushed the front end and hit a couple big rocks, and that had Cooper [Webb] come right up on me. I felt like I had this win tonight. I had a spot where I was watching him [Webb], and he was not catching me…But he got me pretty easy. I just tried to get in behind him and ride it out…It sucks that we couldn’t get the win, but I’ll take the second and look forward to Santa Clara.”

Osborne was happy with third place, as he is still nursing injuries suffered at the Phoenix round two weeks ago.

“It has been a tough couple weeks for me,” Osborne said. “But I’m back here now because of the people that help me during the week. I have some ribs that are a little messed up. It hindered me a little bit tonight but not much once the adrenaline got going. I felt good tonight. I felt like I should have been a little bit better in the main event. Still, to get on the podium and bounce back a little bit is awesome.”

The Monster Energy AMA 250SX West Supercross Series now takes a four-week break as the 250SX East Series gets underway next week in Atlanta, Georgia. The 250SX West Series will resume for its final round at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, April 2.

2016 Monster Energy AMA 250SX West Supercross Series
AT&T Stadium
Arlington, Texas
Results: January 20, 2016 (Round 7 of 8)

250SX Main
1. Cooper Webb-Yam
2. Christian Craig-Hon
3. Zach Osborne-Hus
4. Colt Nichols-Yam
5. Mitchell-Oldenburg-KTM
6. Alex Martin-Yam
7. Jimmy Decots-Hon
8. Chris Alldredge-Kaw
9. Kyle Peters-Hon
10. Joey Savatgy-Kaw
11. Michael Lieb-Yam
12. Fredrik Noren-Hon
13. Cole Martinez-Yam
14. Hayden Mellross-Yam
15. Mitchell Harrison-Yam
16. Kyle Cunningham-Suz
17. Cole Thompson-KTM
18. Scott Champion-Yam
19. Trevor Reis-Yam
20. Chris Howell-Hus
21. Noah McConahy-Hus
22. Austin Politelli-Yam

2016 Monster Energy AMA 250SX West Supercross Series Points Standings (after 7 of 8 rounds)
1. Cooper Webb-145/4 wins
2. Joey Savatgy-134/2 wins
3. Christian Craig-129/1 win
4. Colt Nichols-117
5. Zach Osborne-110
6. Jimmy Decotis-99
7. Mitchell Oldenburg-97
8. Kyle Peters-87
9. Kyle Cunningham-69
10. Jordon Smith-63
Alex Martin-63