Larry Lawrence | January 9, 2016
Photo by Kit Palmer
Cooper Webb has the pressure of high expectations, but the No. 1 plate holder did what was most thought he would, by scoring the win in the opening round of the Monster Energy AMA 250 West Region Supercross race in Anaheim’s Angel Stadium.
Webb overcame a sub-par start, but chased down leader Jessy Nelson around the halfway mark.
Nelson emerged the early leader ahead of Smith and Alex Martin. Webb moved up quickly from fourth to take over second on the third lap. On lap four Joey Savatgy and Christian Craig tangled while running near the front and something on Craig’s bike hook Savatgy’s machine and the separation was not clean.
Another leading runner Jordon Smith went down alone on lap six exiting a turn, but he got up to run fifth.
By about halfway Nelson built his lead over Webb to right at three seconds. Zach Osborne ran third, with James Decotis and Jordon Smith rounding out the top five.
In the second half of the race Webb started closing on Nelson. With five to go Webb had closed to within a second. That same lap Nelson made an error in a rhythm section and Webb wasted no time in striking and taking over the point.
In the closing laps Webb pulled clear and crossed the finish line with a 6.799-secnd lead over Nelson. Osborne rounded out the podium finishers. He was 19 seconds back from the winner.
In the end Nelson led 10 laps and Webb just five, but it was the final five that counted the most.
“Nelson has the reputation as a good starter, so I knew he was going to get a good start,” Webb said. “But it’s all about finishing strong. It’s awesome to start A1 like this. I had a bad night here last year, so I’m stoked to end it this way.”
Last year’s A1 250 winner Jessy Nelson assessed his second-place ride. “I’ve got more in the tank I know that,” he said. “I worked really hard this off season, harder than I’ve ever worked. I know I’m ready. I didn’t get the chance to pump up in practice and get that lactic acid out of my system, so I kind of built it up in that race. I had more, but you can either end up on the ground in the first round or come away with some good points. Cooper rode awesome. He was on the gas for sure. Congrats to him. It was a good night.”
Osborne opened last year with an injury, so was happy to start 2016 on the podium.
“I feel good about the night, although I was a little disappointed with how I rode in the main event,” Osborne explained. “I was just a little too conservative in the beginning and let Cooper get away from me.”
The series now moves to Petco Park in San Diego next Saturday.
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Angel Stadium – Anaheim, Ca Round 1 – January 9, 2016 Western Regional 250SX Class Results
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
- Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM
- Zach Osborne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna
- Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
- Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Honda
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha
- Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha
- Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM
- Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., HondaWestern Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha – 25
- Jessy Nelson, Paso Robles, Calif., KTM – 22
- Zach Osborne, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Husqvarna – 20
- Jimmy DeCotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda – 18
- Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Honda – 16
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha – 15
- Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha – 14
- Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki – 13
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM – 12
- Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda – 11
