Webb on having the red plate – turning his 450 career around!
It’s probably no exaggeration to say that Cooper Webb has resurrected a stalling career in the last four weeks. The last two races in particular have seen the former 250 supercross and motocross champ finally make good on his expected potential as a winner in the 450 class and prove the doubters wrong.
It has been an unbelievable turnaround for a rider who was effectively in the last-chance saloon when he signed with Red Bull KTM after two tough years at Yamaha. Along with the change of machine, a determined Webb moved his life to Florida to train with Aldon Baker alongside former rival and new teammate Marvin Musquin as well as Zach Osborne.
Thankfully for Webb and a shrewd Red Bull KTM who took the chance on him, the plan has worked with Webb winning the last two weekends and now carrying the red plate in supercross.
“For the first time in my 450 career I have the points lead! We are only four rounds in with 13 to go so plenty of racing left in the championship. But for me what is special is that in 2018 after 4 rounds I was 11th in points. Moral of the story is ignore the talk and never settle,” commented Webb on Instagram about his resurgence.
From 11th in the championship to 1st in a year is a massive leap and even the usually brash and confident Webb admitted he didn’t expect to happen so quickly, possibly offering an insight into how much his confidence had been eroded over the two previous seasons.
“I had no idea I would be able to accomplish that (two wins in four races),” explained Webb after the race in Oakland. “My goal this year was to win a race, for it to happen this way is pretty spectacular, but it’s motivating at the same time. The work we put in the off-season is obvious paying off right now.”
“The first two I was riding good but the results weren’t what I wanted, to have two wins a row is pretty awesome.”
And after winning his first 450 supercross race, Cooper feels it has actually taken some pressure off him. “For me it became a little less pressure, it was kind of the monkey off my back so for it to happen again, I wasn’t really expecting that, every time I’m out here I want to do the best I can and whatever happens, happens.”
“To have that red plate for the first time is a huge accomplishment for me, I just want to apply the same things I have been doing, have good weeks and work on my flaws. Even this week I won but I definitely wasn’t the best guy (nods to Musquin) so I have got stuff to work on.”
It’s only four races it but Webb is finally a legitimate title contender in what will be his third season on a 450, and, whether he wins the championship or not, he has already proven that he can compete with the best of the best in supercross on a 450.
