The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team put a stamp on their final night of residency in Houston on Saturday as Cooper Webb led the charge to top the 450SX podium with an impressive closing performance at Round 3 of the 2021 AMA Supercross Championship.
Following a rough start to the season, Webb and the team went back to the drawing board with a ready to race plan that proved to be nothing less than solid as they emerged victorious for the first time this season. In 450SX Heat 1, Webb powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a third-place start and he raced it in for a solid third. In the Main Event, he came out swinging to capture the holeshot and early lead. He got passed by Ken Roczen a few laps in but he maintained a strong pace to keep the leader within striking distance all race long. Webb closed the gap on Roczen in the final laps to create an intense head-to-head battle on the final lap. Dodging lapped traffic in a dash to the finish, Webb was able to edge out Roczen in the final turns to secure the win.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76MsHPKUJsk[/embedyt]
Cooper Webb: “It was a close race the whole time and Kenny [Roczen] rode a solid race with not many mistakes. The track was really tricky, easy to over-ride and get impatient. The lappers there at the end was a bummer, I felt like we were going to have a really good battle, and obviously we did, but the lappers were really tough tonight. I hung in there and I pounced on that last lap and made it happen. I’ve really got to give it up to my team, they’re amazing.” (source: ktm)
STORY: Cooper Webb Takes Control Of The 450SX Championship With Victory At Arlington SX (March 2021)
STORY: Justin Barcia Delivers First-Ever 450SX Win For GasGas Factory Racing In Their US SX Debut (January 2021)
photo (c) Align Media