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In an intense final night of AMA Supercross Championships racing in Atlanta, Cooper Webb edged out his championship rival at this round 15 event to claim the 450SX main event victory.

Germany’s Ken Roczen (Honda) had won the previous round, but Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team rider Webb offered up this perfect response and he now holds a 16-point lead heading into the final two rounds of racing in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Webb came out swinging in 450SX heat two, where he shot off the line to capture the holeshot and led the first three laps of the race. He got passed with two laps to go, bringing it in for second-place finish in the heat.

In the main event, Webb got a top-five start and worked his way through an eventful opening lap to position himself in third early on. He began applying pressure on the second-place rider of Yamaha’s Aaron Plessinger on lap two and it wasn’t long before he blitzed his way into second-place.

With the race leader, Roczen, going down later in the race, Webb was able to cut the gap down to five seconds heading into the final laps.

The 450SX class points leader increasingly cut down the deficit to the leader, eventually charging up to the rear tire of Roczen and making the pass just before the white flag. He held off a hard-charging Roczen all the way to the chequered flag, claiming the win by 0.957 seconds at this round 15 of 17 in the series.

“I have to give it up to my team, they gave me a competitive bike tonight – we went back and figured some things out,” said Webb.

“Honestly, I made so many mistakes and I really didn’t ride well at all but I dug deep. I saw Kenny out front and he was riding awesome. I was trying to do everything I can and when he made that mistake, I saw blood in the water and I went for it. I just wanted to win.”

Next Race: Salt Lake City 1 – April 24, 2021.

Photo courtesy KTM

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RESULTS & STANDINGS:

450SX Class Results:

1. Cooper Webb, Newport N.C., KTM
2. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki
4. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha
5. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS
6. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha
7. Dylan Ferrandis, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Yamaha
8. Dean Wilson, Murrieta, Calif., Husqvarna
9. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM
10. Chase Sexton, Clermont, Fla., Honda

450SX Class Championship Standings:

1. Cooper Webb, Newport N.C., KTM (339)
2. Ken Roczen, Clermont, Fla., Honda (323)
3. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., Kawasaki (299)
4. Justin Barcia, Greenville, Fla., GASGAS (264)
5. Aaron Plessinger, Hamilton, Ohio, Yamaha (234)
6. Jason Anderson, Rio Rancho, N.Mex., Husqvarna (223)
7. Malcolm Stewart, Haines City, Fla., Yamaha (209)
8. Dylan Ferrandis, Lake Elsinore, Calif., Yamaha (199)
9. Marvin Musquin, Corona, Calif., KTM (182)
10. Joey Savatgy, Clermont, Fla., KTM (177)

Western Regional 250SX Class Results:

1. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha
2. Justin Cooper, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha
3. Seth Hammaker, Temecula, Calif., Kawasaki
4. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda
5. Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda
6. Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Husqvarna
7. Enzo Lopes, Huntersville, N.C., Honda
8. Mitchell Harrison, Murrieta, Calif., Honda
9. Dilan Schwartz, Alpine, Calif., Suzuki
10. Coty Schock, Dover, Del., Honda

Western Regional 250SX Class Championship Standings:

1. Justin Cooper, Menifee, Calif., Yamaha (180)
2. Hunter Lawrence, Wesley Chapel, Fla., Honda (160)
3. Cameron McAdoo, Sioux City, Iowa, Kawasaki (158)
4. Seth Hammaker, Temecula, Calif., Kawasaki (142)
5. Jalek Swoll, Belleview, Fla., Husqvarna (138)
6. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha (127)
7. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Yamaha (125)
8. Kyle Peters, Greensboro, N.C., Honda (111)
9. Coty Schock, Dover, Del., Honda (99)
10. Mitchell Harrison, Murrieta, Calif., Honda (90)