Photography by Kit Palmer
Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb was none too happy after pulling away from the field only to see the red flag stop the race. Not only was it a red flag after six laps of racing (due to a gate malfunction that held up Zach Osborne), but race officials decided to do a complete restart. Webb was able to channel his anger and on the restart, took over the lead from Troy Lee Designs/ Lucas Oil/ Red Bull/ KTM’s Jessy Nelson just past halfway through and pulled away to a solid 3.650-second victory over Nelson. Webb’s teammate Aaron Plessinger took third, marking his first career 250 Supercross podium.
Webb’s early charge to the front was all for naught when the red flag came out six laps into the 250 Main. Zach Osborne launched his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna into a gate that didn’t drop. Officials took a quick look at the tape and rightly decided to restart the race, but by that time they were six laps in. Webb was visibly upset at the call.
On the complete restart it was Nelson scoring the holeshot. Last week’s winner Malcolm Stewart went down on the first lap ruining his night. Webb fortunately got a decent enough start and emerged in second.
Any kind of showdown between rivals Webb and Tyler Bowers was thrown out the window when Bowers suffered a spectacular looking crash on lap three. He lost balance, got too far forward on his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki and augered in to the face of the next jump. He eventually remounted, but was only able to manage 15th.
Up front Nelson held off the challenge by Webb until lap eight. Nelson made a small error going into a whoop section and Webb took advantaged and charged through to the lead. Nelson fought back in the next turn and got back in front for an instant, but Webb had the better line and quickly took back the point and from then on out he added to his lead.
Plessinger got a solid start in fourth and ran a steady race to third. He was 7.946-seconds behind his teammate at the flag, but well clear of fourth-place finisher Osborne, who is still riding with a broken left thumb. Matthew Bisceglia came out the worst with the red flag, having holeshot the initial start and running second when the red came out. He finished fifth.
“I was definitely not too happy with that restart,” Webb said. “I finally got a good start and they red flagged it. I was pretty upset, but luckily for me when I’m made I ride well. It was just an awesome night for the whole squad. We won that race fair and square and my good buddy and teammate got third and my roommate Cole Martinez got tenth, so it was just an awesome night.”
Webb now has theee wins in five races and leaves Anaheim III with a solid 18-point lead (111-93) over Nelson with four rounds remaining in the West. Osborne is third with 97 points. His crash dropped Bowers to fourth with 84.
The series moves to San Diego next weekend.
Western Regional 250SX Class Results: Anaheim Race 3
1. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
2. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM
3. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha
4. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Husqvarna
5. Matt Bisceglia, Weatherford, Texas, Honda
6. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM
7. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki
8. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM
9. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha
10. Cole Martinez, Rimrock, Ariz., Yamaha
Western Regional 250SX Class Season Standings
1. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha, 111
2. Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM, 93
3. Zach Osborne, Chesterfield, S.C., Husqvarna, 87
4. Tyler Bowers, Corona, Calif., Kawasaki, 84
5. Justin Hill, Yoncalla, Ore., KTM, 78
6. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha, 74
7. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Honda, 68
8. Shane McElrath, Canton, N.C., KTM, 64
9. Josh Hansen, Elbert, Colo., Kawasaki, 61
10. Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha, 59
