Cooper Webb on: The Third Title | Interview 2

Cooper Webb has held the 450SX red plate since February 22, 2025, and it took 79 days for that to transform to gold. Rice Eccles Stadium provided the backdrop to his championship celebration–one that made him a three-time victor at the sport's highest level–and provided sweet relief after four years of disappointment. Webb ended the season with a total of 30 career wins, 76 podiums and 100 top five finishes.

After the massive triumph, Webb sat in front of some of the sport's media and reflected on all that led to his third 450SX title. There was a lot to unpack from injuries, such as the thumb that was reinjured in December, and his return to the YZ450F that treated him so poorly when he first jumped to the premier division. The transcript of that discussion can be found below.

Press Conference: Please take us under your helmet during that final lap, final corner, and when you knew you were a three-time champion. What was going through your mind?

Cooper Webb: A lot of relief. A lot of work and passion go into this. It was a sigh of relief. I was fired up from the beginning and wanted to get a win, but then it almost settled in. You say, "Just do not mess up." It was a great race. I put myself in a position to cruise it in. Like I said on the podium; I have been up at 03:00am a lot, thinking about how I could win this damn thing again. Here we are.

We will shift to outdoors in a couple of weeks, so the celebration is short as you start to go for another championship. Chase learned a lot competing against you in a one-on-one battle. Now, you have a lot of guys coming back, and the points reset…

I am going to stop you. I do not care about the outdoors right now. I said the same in 2019 and 2021; supercross champ. I do not give a crap.

What is the biggest thing that you have learned from this championship battle? Especially over the last five weeks?

You have to stay in it. You have to stay present and focused. You have to apply yourself every weekend, especially against Chase [Sexton]. He really turned it on at the end. I had a great season, but when he was on then he was on. It was hard these last few days when you have a lot on the line. You have to be good, but you cannot put yourself in a vulnerable spot. You push hard but are also wise and put yourself in a good position. It has been stressful. It is never easy or the most fun time in these closing stages, but it feels great when you get to this point.

Going back to November–flying from the Paris Supercross, then going to Australia and during the SMX media days–it was clear you wanted this. You told us then that you knew the window was closing. What was the breakout moment during the last seven months where you knew you, "I have this thing?"

It was a tough off-season with the injuries that I had last year. I had some great off-season races, but also ups and downs. I had a crash in the off-season that set me back, but it was more that I went all in this year. As Rich said in his interview, we sat down for coffee and he told me I was fat–that I needed to get my shit together. I said, "You're right." I made it a priority and woke up every day and grinded. I have to give it up to my team. I know everyone says it, but they truly pushed me to be the best version of myself every day. My teammates and training partners, including Justin Cooper who has been underestimated as a training partner–he pushes me every day. All the people we have like Gareth Swanepoel and my physio guy, PJ, back home. We go all in every day, which is what Star Racing expects from you. I love it. That is what put me in this position. It is not fun or picture-perfect every day, but this moment makes it worth it. 

Was it difficult to race smartly tonight, especially being embroiled in the same three-way battle that you were in last week?

It was. You never know. I was a little timid, because I know what I would probably do in Chase's position. I was mindful of it and had to be smart. You want to be in attack mode, but I also gave myself that buffer. Those two behind me were battling for third in the championship and I knew that was happening. Once I knew what was happening, I rolled over a bit and took my fourth. Everyone's happy. Justin gets third, I get first and it is a win-win.

You are now a three-time supercross champion; James Stewart, Chad Reed, and Eli Tomac have two. A whole bunch of dudes have only managed to get two championships. You have said that you might not be the fastest or have the same physical attributes as some of those others, but have you had a chance to reflect on how insane it is to be a three-time champion in this era of supercross? You won your first in 2019. It's now 2025.

The time gap is the biggest thing. In 2019 and 2021, it was almost like you were programmed. I was at the Baker's Factory and grinding. It was great, and the competition was super stiff, but things were always coming at me almost too good. You take a win for granted because we were clicking so much. The time gap is what makes this one stand out. The 2022 season was ridiculously bad. To fight through all of that and come close in 2023, close last year and now to do it at 29 years old. Three times is a dream–that's the easiest way to say it. Hopefully, I can keep going, but you never know at 29. These kids are fast. I'll keep doing my thing and putting myself in these situations. I know I am a gamer and can do it, so I'm going to go as long as I can. This third one means the world, especially now as a dad and on another team. These guys gave me my first shot as a pro. To repay Bobby Regan and Brad Hoffman with a 450SX championship means a lot. 

Speak about the decision to return to Yamaha and be with Star Racing in the premier class, as well as the pathway to this championship over the past few years.

I'm thankful. I'm glad that I could give it back to Yamaha, because they wasted a lot of money on me early in my 450SX career. Switching to the team I always envisioned myself on, winning the biggest championship you can and doing it the way we did feels good. You have had so many good and bad years, and the last time at Yamaha was not great for any of us. Repaying them those favors feels really nice. I had a great time with KTM, and we did a lot of great things, but these guys are like my family. We are all on the same page and they understand me. They know where to push me and where not to. I can be myself and say what I want–they will fire right back and put me in my place. It is super special. I call Bobby my grandpa, so it is super special. 

So many things are going on behind the scenes to get this done. Can you take us through some of those things that made this championship so sweet?

Just the ups and downs. Last year, with injuries, I was in pain for nine months due to my thumb. It never healed or got better–then I crashed and reinjured it. It makes you tough, and that is the bottom line. It's easy to roll over. I've won two and made a lot of money. I do this because I absolutely love it, and this is what I chase. To be able to do it in that way is awesome. You are giving it your absolute best when we have our boot camps, from diet to sleep, to I have not had a sip of alcohol in a year. Those are the things you give up chasing your dreams. In December, it was rough. I was sitting there with an injury and running on the beach with my agent. We had a chat about whether we race or not. We said, "F**k it. Let's race." If it does not work, we will get surgery and call it. Stuff like that. I was not thinking about it an hour ago, but sitting here in this chair, so many things have to go right. We did it and we are a three-time champion.