Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing's Cooper Webb returned to the podium with a runner-up finish at Philadelphia Supercross, scoring valuable points to maintain his spot at the top of the 450SX Championship. Justin Cooper overcame adversity from a first-turn pile-up to finish sixth at the Lincoln Financial Field, Round 13 of Monster AMA Supercross and the SuperMotocross World Championship.
It was another weekend with an abbreviated practice schedule due to rain leading up to the event, and although there were much better conditions than in Foxborough, it was another cold, damp day in the Northeast. Webb showed strength from the start, qualifying second, and then got a great start to his heat race. He quickly claimed the lead but was passed on the next lap and rode to a runner-up finish in the tricky conditions. In the main event, the red plate holder made it through the first-turn chaos and was seventh after the opening lap. Webb put his head down and started to make his way to the front, advancing to third on Lap 6 and then to the runner-up spot on Lap 16, where he would finish.
Cooper also had a strong start to the day, qualifying third and then grabbing the holeshot in his heat race. The New Yorker led for most of the race, but in the final laps, he got caught up behind a stalled rider and was shuffled to second, where he would finish. Unfortunately, it was a chaotic start to the main event, with Cooper having to come back from the back of the field after a first-turn pile-up. The 2021 250SX West Champion immediately went to work and crossed the line sixth for an impressive charge back with a bike that wasn’t 100% after the crash.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads to East Rutherford, New Jersey, on April 19, as the Northeast swing continues with Round 14 of Monster Energy AMA Supercross and the SuperMotocross World Championship at MetLife Stadium.
Rich Simmons – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“Both guys qualified really well, and the heat races went well. In the main event, it was a chaotic first turn. We got lucky to get through that with Coop. He and (Chase) Sexton both came out of that together. It was a good race, and Coop rode really well, unfortunately sometimes you’re just not the best guy. Justin had a great race, coming from almost dead last in the first turn and back to sixth with the bike bent up. So that was nice to see some fight out of him. Overall, it was a good night. We lost a few points, but we’ll come back next weekend.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“Philly was an up-and-down day. I was second across the board – qualified second, heat race second, and got second in the main. So, I’m a bit bummed. I got beat straight up, which is never great. We’ll regroup, have a good week, and come back swinging at MetLife.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“It turned out pretty well after all the rain we got yesterday. I thought the track was good all day. The soil was a little tricky, I think no matter what, and that came into play in the main. I had a great day going all the way around, and a great heat race. I just got tangled up in the first turn. I went down there and had to come back from a first-turn pileup. I was riding okay, but the bike was a little bit bent up, so it made it a little bit tougher. I just kept charging all the way through and finished sixth. Obviously, it’s not ideal, but we can’t be too bummed about it. I’m riding well, but yeah, stuff happens. On to New Jersey.”