ATLANTA – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Cooper Webb proved to the world what it means to be a champion after a valiant performance in Saturday’s Atlanta Supercross Main Event. Still recovering from last weekend’s brutal crash in Texas, Webb fought relentlessly through the pack to secure a podium finish at Round 9 of the 2020 AMA Supercross Championship inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The reigning 450SX Champion came into Atlanta perhaps even more determined than usual as he fought hard to bounce back and remain in championship contention. He qualified seventh overall for the day after being forced to cut his second practice session short due to the pain in his body. In 450SX Heat 2, Webb got off to a fourth-place start aboard the KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION and he quickly engaged into race mode, setting his sights on a top-three position early on. With two laps to go, he made the pass for third and he charged his way to a close third-place finish.
In the Main Event, Webb didn’t get off to the best start as he rounded the opening lap in 10th. He then made a mistake and stalled the bike early on, dropping as far back as 13th before putting his head down and charging up to eighth. With about five laps to go, Webb found himself inside the top-five and from there he began an ambitious charge toward the front. Capitalizing on a mistake by another rider, Webb quickly jumped into fourth as he came into the final lap within striking distance of third. He fought relentlessly on the final lap in what would become a three-way battle for third and it was Webb who held his ground to secure the final podium position in a close race to the finish.
Webb: “That was probably the hardest race I’ve ever had. I was way back and just put my head down and tried to do the best I can. I got a few gifts from the guys ahead of me but man, it was painful. I knew it wasn’t going to be fun or easy, but that’s racing. It’s a long way out but the only thing keeping me going is this championship, so we’ll do whatever we can.”
Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Pierce Brown made his 250SX East debut on Saturday with a solid ride in Atlanta. Brown started off strong in the first heat as he powered his KTM 250 SX-F into second early on. He mixed it up with some of the top riders in the class before ultimately securing a third-place transfer into the Main Event.
The Main Event didn’t quite go as planned for the rookie after getting caught up in the tail-end of another rider’s mistake on lap two. With nowhere to go, Brown was forced to go off the track and into the tough blocks, ultimately resulting in a crash. Brown was able to re-mount and salvage a 17th place finish.
Next Race: Daytona Beach, Florida – March 7, 2020
1. Ken Roczen (GER), Honda, 25 laps
2. Justin Barcia (USA), Yamaha, +13.612
3. Cooper Webb (USA), KTM, +16.719
Other KTM
5. Martin Davalos (ECQ), KTM
18. Daniel Herrlein (USA), KTM
19. Blake Baggett (USA), KTM
1. Tomac, 200 points
2. Roczen, 200
3. Barcia, 177
4. Webb, 176
Other KTM
11. Baggett, 108
1. Chase Sexton (USA), Honda
2. RJ Hampshire (USA), Husqvarna
3. Shane McElrath (USA), Yamaha
Other KTM
14. Kevin Moranz (USA), KTM
15. Hunter Sayles, (USA), KTM
17. Pierce Brown, (USA), KTM
21. Curren Thurman (USA), KTM
22. Lance Kobusch (USA), KTM
1. Sexton, 75 points
2. McElrath, 70
3. Hampshire, 61