Larry Lawrence | January 16, 2016
Photo by Steve Cox
It didn’t look like it was going to be Cooper Webb’s night. The Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha rider seemed to struggle all night in San Diego’s Petco Park, but his luck completely turned around in the 250 West main event. After a slow start, Webb charged through the field and took the lead from Zach Osborne with just four laps to go. From that point Webb pulled away to a strong 3.116-second victory over second-place Joey Savatgy on the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki. GEICO Honda’s Jordon Smith rounded out the podium finishers.
It marked the second win in two races for Webb and pushed his 250 West series lead to 14 points over Jordon Smith (50-36). Savatgy and Osborne are tied for third in the standings, just a single point behind Smith.
The 15-lap Western Regional 250SX Class Main Event got underway with GEICO Honda’s Jordon Smith emerging from the first turn to capture the SupercrossLive.com Holeshot Award. As the field settled in, Smith’s GEICO Honda teammate Jimmy DeCotis, Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki’s Joey Savatgy and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Zach Osborne battled for podium spots, while Webb was forced to battle from eighth. DeCotis soon crashed out of the top three, allowing Osborne to take over second and Savatgy third.
On Lap 5 Osborne got inside Smith after the whoops and took over the lead. At about the same time, Webb was completing the pass on Savatgy for third after a torrid run to the front. Just two laps later Webb moved into second with a pass on Smith and set his sights on Osborne out front. The following lap, Savatgy moved back into a podium spot with a pass on Smith for third. Osborne kept Webb at bay for a few laps but on Lap 11 the reigning champion made the winning pass with an aggressive move. Once out front, Webb pulled away while Osborne would crash out of second on Lap 13, allowing both Savatgy and Smith to take over second and third, respectively.
Webb took his second win at Petco Park, and the eighth win of his career, ahead of Savtagy in second. Smith earned the first podium finish of his career in third.
“I just put myself where I had to be,” Webb explained after the win. “Last year this is where I got hurt. I think that was a little bit in my head today, but I pulled my head out of my butt and decided to get it done in that main. It wasn’t a great start at all, which was a real shame, but it feels cool to come through the pack and pass all the guys like that. It was late in the race before I made the pass, so it was another late-race charge and I’m just stoked to be back up here.”
Christian Craig finished fourth on his GEICO Honda and Colt Nichols rounded out the top five riding his Cycle Trader/Rock River Yamaha.
The series moves back up the road to Anaheim next Saturday for Anaheim II.
San Diego I AMA 250 West Supercross Results, Jan. 16, 2016
1. Cooper Webb, Yamaha.
2. Joey Savatgy, Kawasaki.
3. Jordon Smith, Honda.
4. Christian Craig, Honda.
5. Colt Nichols, Yamaha.
6. Zach Osborne, Husqvarna.
7. Kyle Peters, Honda.
8. James Decotis, Honda.
9. Kyle Cunningham, Suzuki.
10. Chris Alldredge, Kawasaki.
Points
1. Webb, 50.
2. Smith, 36.
3. (tie) Savatgy, 35.
3. Osborne, 35.
5. Decotis, 31.