Slaw
It has been a tough title defense for Monster Energy/Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb. After opening the season with 7-8-5 finishes, Webb got his season back on track at Houston’s Triple Crown, claiming the overall despite not winning a main event. Podium finishes in Glendale, Seattle and Arlington followed. But, since that lone win in late January, Webb has yet to finish on the top step.
At Detroit on Saturday, Webb was in winning form. He looked fast all day and was up front early in the main event. Once Ken Roczen got into the lead, Webb knew he needed to make a quick pass on Jorge Prado and not let Roczen get away.
On the third lap, Webb made a decisive move that went horribly wrong. He went to the inside of Prado on the exit of the second turn and both riders went down.
While he came back to finish sixth, Detroit had to feel like a lost night, especially when you take into account Hunter Lawrence’s crash and 18th on the night.
In a Yamaha press release, Webb said the move was “dumb” and that he went and apologized to Jorge following the race.
“In the main event, that was just a really dumb move on my end. I thought I saw an opening and obviously didn’t, and took myself and Prado both down, which was a bummer. I went and apologized to him. So, I’m really bummed about it because I rode so well in that main event. I felt like I had the speed to win tonight. We’ll keep plugging away. It’s been a tough year, but it is what it is, and you’ve got to move on.”
Through 10 rounds, Webb now finds himself 26 points back of new points leader Eli Tomac in the title chase.
