Jean Turner | February 6, 2016
A fast and tricky track inside the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona was the site of Christian Craig’s career-first AMA Supercross win. The GEICO Honda rider, who made a return to racing this year after hanging up his boots, celebrated a dominant win in the Western Regional 250SX class, having led all 15 laps of the main event.
After Craig’s GEICO Honda teammate Jimmy Decotis grabbed the holeshot, Craig quickly moved in and took over the lead. From there, Christian Craig never looked back – not even when Yamalube Star Racing Yamaha’s Cooper Webb started showing him a blue fender.
Christian Craig and the GEICO Honda crew celebrate the 250SX win at Phoenix. Photography Kit Palmer
Webb had made his way forward in the pack, strategically picking off rider after rider until he was breathing down Craig’s neck. Webb made his move on Craig on lap nine, diving to the inside of a 180-turn. But the attempt backfired on Webb, as he lost the front end and hit the ground. Webb managed to keep the YZ250F running as he scrambled to his feet, and he got going again just as Joey Savatgy was approaching.
Savatgy nearly got around him at that point, but Webb successfully defended his runner-up position to the finish, leaving Savatgy in third. Savatgy, who came off a win at the previous round and was eager to defend his newly earned red plate, was planning on achieving more than a third-place finish in Phoenix. But the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki rider admitted he “struggled” on the treacherous and high-speed track, commenting “I struggled with this track all day. But all in all it was good. We got points.”
The night also didn’t go according to plan for Webb, who was seeking another win after last week’s disappointing DNF. Although Webb did not lose any positions in his crash, he did lose any attempt at challenging Craig for the win.
“I just washed the front end,” Webb explained of his crash after attempting to set up Craig for a pass. “I tried going in the inside of him. He’s really good at [guarding the inside]. I tried to run it in and tucked the front. It’s good to get second after crashing. It is what it is.”
Christian Craig’s win advances him in points, although Webb and Savatgy still sit one and two in the championship. Webb and Savatgy are now tied on 98 points apiece, with the scales tipping in Webb’s favor on account of his three wins to Savatgy’s one. Craig is 11 points back in third – certainly within striking distance with three rounds still to go in the Western Regional 250SX Championship.
Zach Osborne took a hit in the points after disaster struck in the main event. Osborne was caught up in a first-lap crash that took down several riders. The Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider was carted off by the Asterisk Mobile Medical crew with what appeared to be an injured arm.
Western Regional 250SX Class Results – Phoenix
- Christian Craig, Corona, Calif., Honda
- Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha
- Joey Savatgy, Thomasville, Ga., Kawasaki
- Mitchell Oldenburg, Alvord, Texas, KTM
- Colt Nichols, Muskogee, Okla., Yamaha
- Chris Alldredge, Powell Butte, Ore., Kawasaki
- Alex Martin, Millville, Minn., Yamaha
- Kyle Cunningham, Willow Park, Texas, Suzuki
- Jimmy Decotis, Peabody, Mass., Honda
- Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda
Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings
- Cooper Webb (98/3 wins)
- Joey Savatgy (98/1 win)
- Christian Craig (87/1 win)
- Colt Nichols (81)
- Zach Osborne (74)
- Jimmy Decotis (71)
- Mitchell Oldenburg (66)
- Kyle Peters (62)
- Jordon Smith (61)
- Kyle Cunningham (54)
