Justin Cooper Returns to the Podium in Dramatic Salt Lake City Finale
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing finishes the 450SX season strong with a runner-up finish from Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb coming just shy of the podium at the Supercross season finale / May 12, 2026 /
The Monster Energy AMA Supercross season came to an exciting close last Saturday inside Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Utah. It wasn't the night Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing had drawn up with poor starts from both riders in the final 450SX Main Event of the year, but they fought to finish. Justin Cooper and Cooper Webb charged through the field to be in position for a dramatic late-race battle for the podium, with Cooper finishing runner-up and Webb just shy of the box in fourth.
After qualifying sixth, Cooper got a good start to the heat race in third, and while he closed in on Jorge Prado in the final laps, he would finish there. In the main event, the New Yorker did not get off the gate as he had hoped and found himself back in eighth. He steadily worked his way into fourth and continued charging as the battle for the podium tightened. It turned into an intense four-rider battle for the podium, with his teammate Webb right behind. With two laps to go, Cooper made the pass on Ken Roczen and Prado in succession, claiming the runner-up spot and returning to the podium for the fourth time this season.
“My main event was solid, I just didn’t get off the gate great,” said Cooper. “I was able to work my way through the field pretty well. People got tired, and Kenny was drifting back with no one really there. So, it got a little bit crazy. Everyone bunched up. We made a two-for-one pass before the finish, and suddenly we were in second with a couple laps to go. We almost got up there and made something happen. A better start definitely would’ve helped, but it was still an awesome way to cap off a great season.”
Cooper Webb felt good heading into the finale. The 2025 450SX Champion qualified fifth, but had to charge back from 10th to fifth in his heat race. In the main event, another bad start put him 13th on the opening lap. In true Webb fashion, he immediately went to work to make it into the top five. As the race tightened up at the end, Webb closed in on the riders ahead and made the pass on Roczen after his teammate made his way through, claiming fourth. He made a run at third but finished just shy in the end.
“Honestly, it was just a horrible start, which was unfortunate because I was feeling really good all day,” said Webb. “I started way too far back, so it turned into a hard charge all race long. J Coop and I were coming through the pack together, and there at the end it got pretty close. It was a challenging season and not where we want to be. We were able to get third overall in the points, but we expect more. We'll get back to work and get ready for outdoors.”
“The day went fairly well,” said Rich Simmons, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s 450 Team Manager. “We qualified fifth and sixth, then the heat races were okay. I'd say we lacked in starts tonight; that’s what really hurt us. Justin got on the podium, which was good, but a little bit of a lost opportunity for his first win there. Cooper was right there for a podium at the end, and it would have been nice to get both guys up there. Overall, I think it was a good season. It's not what we all strive for, especially coming off a championship, but I’m really proud of the team and proud of the riders. We’re moving on to outdoors and looking forward to it with all three guys, as Haiden moves up to the 450 class with us.”
Together with the efforts of the team in the 250 class, it was a standout season for Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, which earned the 2026 Manufacturers Cup by a commanding 121-point margin. Cooper Webb finished third in the 450SX Championship with a win and eight podiums, with Justin Cooper ending the year with a top-five overall finish with his four podiums.
The 2026 Pro Motocross season kicks off in two weeks’ time, which is also Round 18 of the Monster Energy SuperMotocross World Championship, at Fox Raceway in Pala, California, on May 30.