Cooper Webb. The biggest surprise that shouldn’t have been.

We all watched what he did last fall in SMX and in Paris.  All the pre-season review shows had him close to the tail end of the top 10 at best.  Once again, Webb proved that he’s a gamer and there’s a reason he’s got a pair of Supercross #1 plates hanging on his wall.  

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ky_savage
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1/7/2024 9:38am

Don't get me wrong, Cooper rode great last night.  With this being the first race of the season, I'm putting this performance down as him pushing far more than the other guys were willing to.  While everyone else was trying to make sure they made it to the next round, Cooper felt he had to ride slightly harder to be in the conversation.  The crash in the main event showed that.

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1/7/2024 9:42am

I can't figure him out sometimes. Looked slow in Paris, then he comes to A1 and he's flying. Most times never sets anything close to a fast lap in practice, and performs phenomenally in the race. One thing I know for sure, is to never count him out. He finds a way to elevate himself when it counts.

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Spoonguy
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1/7/2024 9:59am

Why would he be peaked for off season races? Time to get worried is late Feb. early March. Some of these huys may be peaking early.

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Tumic
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1/7/2024 10:07am Edited Date/Time 1/7/2024 10:07am
Spoonguy wrote:

Why would he be peaked for off season races? Time to get worried is late Feb. early March. Some of these huys may be peaking early.

This is not a peak performance sport like people who compete and train for olympics or a one weekend world championship each year.

 

This is a sport where you race all year around and when you show up you should be in form.

I can give the credit to Coop that he was faster last night that i thought he would be and had better stamnia.

But if i were his boss i would not accept that he was out of shape like he was in SMX and Paris, as i said if you get paid millions of dollars to race. You should be i shape every time you line up, not for selected events.

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The Shop

1/7/2024 10:10am
Spoonguy wrote:

Why would he be peaked for off season races? Time to get worried is late Feb. early March. Some of these huys may be peaking early.

I recall Everts was great at this! He'd build build build and peak mid-season. 

I agree there's no point 'peaking' in January.

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ATKpilot99
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1/7/2024 10:13am

Coop is one of those riders that doesn't surprise me either way , whether he wins or finishes 8th . I will say for whatever reason the speed he is capable of is underrated for a 2 time champ . There have been plenty of times where he's the fastest guy out there . 

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1/7/2024 10:17am
Spoonguy wrote:

Why would he be peaked for off season races? Time to get worried is late Feb. early March. Some of these huys may be peaking early.

Tumic wrote:
This is not a peak performance sport like people who compete and train for olympics or a one weekend world championship each year.   This is...

This is not a peak performance sport like people who compete and train for olympics or a one weekend world championship each year.

 

This is a sport where you race all year around and when you show up you should be in form.

I can give the credit to Coop that he was faster last night that i thought he would be and had better stamnia.

But if i were his boss i would not accept that he was out of shape like he was in SMX and Paris, as i said if you get paid millions of dollars to race. You should be i shape every time you line up, not for selected events.

It's insanely difficult, even impossible to be "on form" for the entire year. And if you think you can, you're misunderstanding 'peak form'.

I feel Aldon pushed hardest for his athletes to do this, then he found a bunch of tired riders ready to retire.

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Magoofan
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1/7/2024 10:17am

I'm was not surprised.    Coop has the heart of a lion, always has.       He certainly put everyone on notice, once again.           

Queue up the clown who keeps posting "fat" pics of Webb...

 

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Tumic
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1/7/2024 10:37am
It's insanely difficult, even impossible to be "on form" for the entire year. And if you think you can, you're misunderstanding 'peak form'. I feel Aldon...

It's insanely difficult, even impossible to be "on form" for the entire year. And if you think you can, you're misunderstanding 'peak form'.

I feel Aldon pushed hardest for his athletes to do this, then he found a bunch of tired riders ready to retire.

You will always have good and bad days, but Webb starting to become the MX version of Paddy Pimblett.

I am not talking about race speed, i am talking about fitness.

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1/7/2024 10:45am

We’ll have to wait & see. Didn’t he finish 2nd at A1 in 2022, then did nothing further remainder of the year??

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prozach
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1/7/2024 12:53pm

Dude passed and beat Jett in the heat.  Was within a few seconds of Jett 3/4 of the way through the main while battling and eating roost.  He looked good, and you know he would have been a dog the last couple laps.  That jump was odd, thrasher and one other had identical crashes on it.   Didn't look like he was over riding at all.  Just a slight mistake  on the smallest jump on the track.  

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KurtJ99
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1/7/2024 12:59pm

This was the best I've every seen Webb ride. Perhaps because Paris was a simpler track and Webb didn't have his bike sorted out. But the rutted and slick track at A1 he looked phenomenal, cutting inside and figuring out lines that others soon copied. I'm not sure if he hit neutral on that step up crash but he was flat out flying all night, and until that time didn't look out of control. And unexpectedly qualified fast. 

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Flatliner
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1/7/2024 1:03pm
It's insanely difficult, even impossible to be "on form" for the entire year. And if you think you can, you're misunderstanding 'peak form'. I feel Aldon...

It's insanely difficult, even impossible to be "on form" for the entire year. And if you think you can, you're misunderstanding 'peak form'.

I feel Aldon pushed hardest for his athletes to do this, then he found a bunch of tired riders ready to retire.

I agree with you,  and he's said as much that he would rather have a rider with a short career and win a bunch.... don't forget dungey did less work with aldon, not more.

 

Just different philosophy's on the whole process.

Magoofan
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1/7/2024 1:19pm
KurtJ99 wrote:
This was the best I've every seen Webb ride. Perhaps because Paris was a simpler track and Webb didn't have his bike sorted out. But the...

This was the best I've every seen Webb ride. Perhaps because Paris was a simpler track and Webb didn't have his bike sorted out. But the rutted and slick track at A1 he looked phenomenal, cutting inside and figuring out lines that others soon copied. I'm not sure if he hit neutral on that step up crash but he was flat out flying all night, and until that time didn't look out of control. And unexpectedly qualified fast. 

He did look very smooth and composed.      He's gelled well with the new bike.  

Anderson was holding him up.    Yes, Coop didn't find a way to get by him early enough.   If he had, I  think he woulda put pressure on Jett the whole race and we all know what happens when he dogs the leaders.   

I mean the dude was less than a 10th off Jetts time.   Who else has done that?   Who else has beaten Jett....Not many. 

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1/7/2024 1:24pm
Spoonguy wrote:

Why would he be peaked for off season races? Time to get worried is late Feb. early March. Some of these huys may be peaking early.

If you ever listened to riders talk about Aldon Baker's program. This would be very accurate. Aldon didn't want them in peak form this early in the season. That they'd be burnt out by the end of the season.

TM

1/7/2024 1:27pm
KurtJ99 wrote:
This was the best I've every seen Webb ride. Perhaps because Paris was a simpler track and Webb didn't have his bike sorted out. But the...

This was the best I've every seen Webb ride. Perhaps because Paris was a simpler track and Webb didn't have his bike sorted out. But the rutted and slick track at A1 he looked phenomenal, cutting inside and figuring out lines that others soon copied. I'm not sure if he hit neutral on that step up crash but he was flat out flying all night, and until that time didn't look out of control. And unexpectedly qualified fast. 

Magoofan wrote:
He did look very smooth and composed.      He's gelled well with the new bike.   Anderson was holding him up.    Yes, Coop didn't find...

He did look very smooth and composed.      He's gelled well with the new bike.  

Anderson was holding him up.    Yes, Coop didn't find a way to get by him early enough.   If he had, I  think he woulda put pressure on Jett the whole race and we all know what happens when he dogs the leaders.   

I mean the dude was less than a 10th off Jetts time.   Who else has done that?   Who else has beaten Jett....Not many. 

No one has beaten Jett when it matters. Do they give trophies for heat race wins?

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Shred
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1/7/2024 1:48pm
prozach wrote:
Dude passed and beat Jett in the heat.  Was within a few seconds of Jett 3/4 of the way through the main while battling and eating...

Dude passed and beat Jett in the heat.  Was within a few seconds of Jett 3/4 of the way through the main while battling and eating roost.  He looked good, and you know he would have been a dog the last couple laps.  That jump was odd, thrasher and one other had identical crashes on it.   Didn't look like he was over riding at all.  Just a slight mistake  on the smallest jump on the track.  

I hate all of those wall type jumps.  They add nothing, slow the race to almost a dead stop, bunch up riders, and cause awkward crashes.  They lost a key 250 rider and almost a key 450 rider.  Rethink having the stupid obstacle.

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motomike137
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1/7/2024 2:00pm

All I know is that it is pretty amazing that in the short span since Paris he must have been grinding hard. He looks ready to pick up where he left off last season. I really enjoyed watching him in the heat and how he went right after Jett when he had a chance. He is one strong willed  little sob imho Smile

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Herr Lich
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1/7/2024 2:10pm Edited Date/Time 1/7/2024 2:19pm
prozach wrote:
Dude passed and beat Jett in the heat.  Was within a few seconds of Jett 3/4 of the way through the main while battling and eating...

Dude passed and beat Jett in the heat.  Was within a few seconds of Jett 3/4 of the way through the main while battling and eating roost.  He looked good, and you know he would have been a dog the last couple laps.  That jump was odd, thrasher and one other had identical crashes on it.   Didn't look like he was over riding at all.  Just a slight mistake  on the smallest jump on the track.  

I think it's fair to say that in the main Jett was using the same tactic as during outdoors - getting a comfortable gap and managing it.  If Webb and Anderson had got too close he would have turned it up.  Dazzy said this is his strategy for SX also. 

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prozach
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1/7/2024 2:59pm
prozach wrote:
Dude passed and beat Jett in the heat.  Was within a few seconds of Jett 3/4 of the way through the main while battling and eating...

Dude passed and beat Jett in the heat.  Was within a few seconds of Jett 3/4 of the way through the main while battling and eating roost.  He looked good, and you know he would have been a dog the last couple laps.  That jump was odd, thrasher and one other had identical crashes on it.   Didn't look like he was over riding at all.  Just a slight mistake  on the smallest jump on the track.  

Herr Lich wrote:
I think it's fair to say that in the main Jett was using the same tactic as during outdoors - getting a comfortable gap and managing...

I think it's fair to say that in the main Jett was using the same tactic as during outdoors - getting a comfortable gap and managing it.  If Webb and Anderson had got too close he would have turned it up.  Dazzy said this is his strategy for SX also. 

Well he made a mistake trying to keep up with Webb in the heat, so I guess it goes both ways.  Impossible to know how much more he had in the tank.   

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plowboy
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1/7/2024 3:20pm

Webb is a tough sumbitch... physically and mentally.  He may not be as "fit" as some of the others but he's plenty fit enough.

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1/7/2024 3:37pm

I gotta say that was the best I've seen him ride a 450 in SX, he looked like he could do what he wanted on the bike.

Fantastic ride.

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BikerScars
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1/7/2024 5:39pm

No one doubts Webb skill set.  He is always a threat.

Its just extra impressive because he switch to a new brand and he did not look comfortable on the YZ last year SMX or in Paris SX.  But he looked fantastic on it yesterday!

Going to love watching Webb in 2024!

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BJR74
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1/7/2024 5:44pm

Rode fast, went down, classic case of ambitions outweighing ability Wink

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KurtJ99
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1/7/2024 5:47pm

No one has beaten Jett when it matters. Do they give trophies for heat race wins?

Nobody is saying Jett didn’t ride great or deserve to win. Webb just looked great too and as I fan I want someone to ride up to Jett’s  level and be in the mix. 

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AMetts
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1/7/2024 6:55pm

That weird kicker thing that took Cooper out was taking everyone out. Webb, Malcom, Thrasher and feel like I saw a privateer wad it up in it too. 

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Spoonguy
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1/7/2024 7:05pm

Looking like a lot of guys looked sharp, Plessinger performed above expectations too. Let's hope everyone stays healthy. Maybe too soon to discuss it but maybe this is the year of Cooper's emergence on a 450 outdoors?

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Forty
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1/7/2024 7:06pm

Big fan here ....  hope he stays healthy and continues to show the fire he had yesterday. 

I think if he had it over, he would have tried for the pass elsewhere on the track,

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Kevin852
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1/7/2024 7:12pm
prozach wrote:
Well he made a mistake trying to keep up with Webb in the heat, so I guess it goes both ways.  Impossible to know how much...

Well he made a mistake trying to keep up with Webb in the heat, so I guess it goes both ways.  Impossible to know how much more he had in the tank.   

More like he made a mistake while closing the gap going faster than Webb. Those two laps before he crashed we both about a second a lap faster 

But it is racing. so we will know more this Sat I suppose. 

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Nutellalord
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1/7/2024 7:19pm
ky_savage wrote:
Don't get me wrong, Cooper rode great last night.  With this being the first race of the season, I'm putting this performance down as him pushing...

Don't get me wrong, Cooper rode great last night.  With this being the first race of the season, I'm putting this performance down as him pushing far more than the other guys were willing to.  While everyone else was trying to make sure they made it to the next round, Cooper felt he had to ride slightly harder to be in the conversation.  The crash in the main event showed that.

the crash was caused by Webb being faster than Anderson and he had to change his line going up the face so he wouldn't run into Jason's rear wheel.  He should've chilled out, but he probably feels he's got a shot to be in the title fight and every point counts.

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