Defending champion Cooper Webb, donning the #1 plate, navigated a challenging Anaheim 2, overcoming an early first-turn incident and a late-race crash to finish in fifth place. This result may not have placed him on the podium, but Webb’s performance left him feeling optimistic about his progress and rallied around his characteristic speed.
Despite the fifth-place finish not conveying his true potential, the race showcased Webb’s return to form and determination. The three-time Supercross champion expressed his frustration over the difficult start to the season but was encouraged by his aggressive riding, confidence, and late-race drive that he is well-known for. “It’s been hell to be honest, but it’s part of the sport… I think there was a lot to be proud of with my riding tonight,” he stated.
Webb’s performance showed promise early on as he finished second in his heat race, which fueled his momentum going into the main event. However, a racing mishap involving Hunter Lawrence and Jorge Prado left him in a disappointing 10th position shortly after the start. Refusing to be deterred, he steadily made his way back into contention, demonstrating patience and skill. “I felt really good all day and had a good heat race finally… I was able to catch up to them,” Webb noted.
Towards the end of the race, he found himself in a battle for a podium position, momentarily moving into fourth after Jason Anderson went off track. Webb pressed forward to challenge Eli Tomac for a possible podium, but his ambition led to a fall in the sand, dropping him back to fifth. “It was a bummer to crash like that when I felt like I had a podium… We’ll be back next week and hungry to turn it around,” he reflected.
Teammate Justin Cooper also marked progress throughout the event, achieving strong qualifying results and a decent top-10 finish, although his initial start left him climbing from 14th place. Cooper acknowledged, “We’re taking the positives and not focusing on the results on paper,” as he aims to build on these incremental improvements.
Team manager Rich Simmons reinforced the notion of positive growth within the team, highlighting enhanced consistency and race performance among riders. With the Southern California rounds now concluded, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team shifts its focus to Houston, riding a wave of renewed hope that the season is on the cusp of turning in their favor. For Webb, Anaheim 2 felt like the beginning of a renewed chapter in his title defense quest.