Webb Returns to the Top at Seattle Supercross
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb showed grit and determination to claim his third 450SX win of the season in an epic battle at Lumen Field / Mar 24, 2024 /
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb was determined to return to the top step of the podium and won a thrilling fight to finish last night in punishing conditions at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington. His third Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX win of the season helped strengthen his bid in the title chase, moving him five points closer to the championship leader. After a less-than-ideal start on the deeply rutted track, Eli Tomac charged back to sixth and Justin Cooper to eighth.
Rain leading up to the race made for tricky conditions and an abbreviated schedule with two qualifying sessions. Webb had a good start to Round 11, qualifying third and finishing third in his heat race. Although he did not get the start he was hoping for in the main event in sixth, the North Carolina rider advanced to third on Lap 2 and continued to push, moving into the runner-up spot three laps later. With eight laps to go, Webb claimed the lead after the frontrunner made an error and continued to fight to the finish in the punishing conditions. It was a thrilling heavyweight battle that went down to the wire, with Webb riding to his third 450SX win of the season and moving back to within 16 points of the championship leader.
Tomac also qualified well, topping the timesheets in the first session and qualifying in the runner-up spot. The Colorado rider showed speed in the heat race, charging from fifth to second, and was on the heels of the leader but ran out of time to advance further. In the main event, he did not get off the gate as he had hoped and found himself 16th. Undeterred, Tomac fought his way up to sixth in the deteriorating conditions, where he would ultimately finish and leave Seattle fifth in the points standings.
Their rookie teammate Cooper had a solid qualifying in eighth despite the tricky conditions. Although the New Yorker didn't get the start he was looking for in his heat race, he fought his way forward to a fifth-place finish. In the main event, he found himself ninth after the start but continued to battle, advancing as far as seventh. Cooper ultimately crossed the line eighth and maintains eighth in point standings.
Next up for Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing is the final Triple Crown event of the season. The team heads to The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 30, Round 12 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Series.
Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“What a night! It was a big fight between Chase (Sexton) and Cooper, and Cooper came out victorious. That’s one thing about him – he will fight to the end, which was awesome. It was a good ride from Eli and Justin as well. We just have to get off the gate better with those boys. It’s hard to start from behind in this field. Overall, it was a great night. We needed that one. It was big for the points and a great night for Cooper.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“Seattle was an insane track. The conditions were so tricky. Our qualifying went well and we ended up third. The heat race wasn’t the best. We finished third, and then in the main event, we got tangled up with Adam (Cianciarulo) off the start. So it wasn’t a great start, but I pushed my way forward and made some great passes. I got up to third, then passed Kenny (Roczen), and was riding behind Chase (Sexton). The track was really hard not to make mistakes on - he’d make a mistake, then I would. We went back and forth, and I finally made the pass stick. There at the end, I was super tight, so I was getting nervous and holding on was tough, but we made it happen. To get another win is incredible.”
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“We actually had a good day going, from practice to the heat race in second. Unfortunately, in the main, I was a little bit behind at the start and had to make a lot of passes. I kept going forward, but sixth is what I had tonight. I did my best to keep moving forward and felt good on most of the track, but I was missing one jump – the jump over the wall. I felt like that affected me a little bit from cracking into the top five. Either way, I’ll keep working and won’t give up. We’ll move on from here and try to be better at the Triple Crown in St. Louis.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“It was a good day, overall. Qualifying went decent, and I felt okay all day, but it was not enough. My starts were okay, but I was not aggressive in the first laps. I came from the back in both races and felt good towards the end of the main event. I felt like I could start picking some guys off there at the end, but lappers were kind of an issue, and the track conditions were breaking down pretty quickly. So I made a few mistakes, ended up getting passed, and was eighth on the night. We’ll move on to next weekend and hopefully do better.”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Seattle Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship Standings
About Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (YMUS), is a recognized leader in the outdoor recreation industry. The company's ever-expanding product offerings include Motorcycles and Scooters, ATV and Side-by-Side vehicles, Snowmobiles, WaveRunner Personal Watercraft, Boats, Outboard Motors, Outdoor Power Equipment, Power Assist Bicycles, Golf Cars, Power Assist Wheelchair Systems, Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Robotic Machines, Unmanned Helicopters, Accessories, Apparel, Yamalube products, and much more. YMUS products are sold through a nationwide network of distributors and dealers in the United States.
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