Cooper Webb captured his first ever 250cc Supercross win. Photography by Shan Moore
There was another first-time winner in the AMA 250 West Supercross Championship. Last week at Anaheim I it was Jessy Nelson, this time at Phoenix, Arizona, it was Cooper Webb joining the winner’s club after putting in a solid ride in the second round of the 2015 Monster Energy AMA 250 West Supercross Series.
Webb had to first get around fast starter Malcolm Stewart before riding off with the win. Webb started off in third, made quick work of Zach Osborne and finished off Stewart by the end of lap four. From then on, the race was all Webb’s. The Yamahalube/Star Racing Yamaha Team rider took the checkered flag with a semi-comfortable five-second lead over Stewart.
“I got an awesome start and that helped a lot,” said Webb. “Phoenix was one of my favorite races last year, so to get it done here feels awesome. It feels good to [move into] second in points, but I’ll feel better to get that red plate [as the championship leader].”
Webb was fast all day and night. The Yamaha rider was quickest in qualifying, finished third in his heat, and put it all together in the main for his first SX win of his career.
Stewart, on the GEICO Honda, also had a night to remember. It was his career-best finish, and he did it coming through the LCQ (which he easily won). He was left with an 18th gate pick but still managed to come away with the early lead. Only one rider, Webb, got around him and he had little trouble holding off last week’s first-time winner, Nelson.
Nelson put his TLD/Lucas Oil/Red Bull KTM into fourth place early in the race and quickly got around Osborne (who was riding with a broken wrist). Nelson held the position the whole race but felt some serious pressure by Aaron Plessinger late in the race. Nelson held on to finish third for his second podium in a row.
“It was great tonight getting my second [career] Supercross podium and two [podiums] in a row to start the season,” said Nelson. “I feel great, I just had to battle there for six or seven laps. I’ll just need to work on some things for next week. We have a six-point lead and still have the red plate [as the points leader], so all in all it’s a good night.”
While Plessinger was busy trying to get by Nelson the last few laps, Tyler Bowers, on the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki, made a late-race charge and snuck by the unsuspecting Yamalube/Star Racing Team rider, Plessinger, on the last lap to steal away third.
Plessinger held on to finish fourth ahead of Red Bull KTM’s Justin Hill, Osborne (on the Rockstar Energy Racing Husqvarna), Shane McElrath (TLD/Lucas Oil/Red Bull/KTM), Zach Bell (Rockstar Energy Racing Husqvarna) and Tommy Hahn (Motosport.com/Honda).
250 WEST MAIN RESULTS
1. Cooper Webb (Yam)
2. Malcolm Stewart (Hon)
3. Jessy Nelson (KTM)
4. Tyler Bowers (Kaw)
5. Aaron Plessinger (Yam)
6. Justin Hill (KTM)
7. Zach Osborne (Hus)
8. Shane McElrath (KTM)
9. Zach Bell (Hus)
10. Tommy Hahn (Hon)
11. Matt Bisceglia (Hon)
12. Michael Leib (Hon)
13. Josh Hanson (Kaw)
14. Cole Martinez (Yam)
15. Chris Alldredge (Kaw)
16. Scott Champion (Yam)
17. Zach Freeberg (Yam)
18. Jackson Richardson (Hon)
19. Landen Powell (KTM)
20. Alex Martin (Yam)
21. Nico Izzi (Yam)
22. Austin Politelli (Yam)
250 WEST POINTS STANDINGS
1. Jessy Nelson (45)
2. Cooper Webb (39)
3. Tyler Bowers (38)
4. Zach Osborne (36)
5. Justin Hill (33)
6. Aaron Plessinger (32)
7. Shane McElrath (28)
8. Malcolm Stewart (23)
9. Zach Bell (22)
10. Josh Hansen (20)
