Webb feels just fine after 250 win

WASHOUGAL — Cooper Webb missed four rounds of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship this summer, recovering from an ankle injury.

It put him in a sour mood.

The ankle is feeling fine now.

And after an hour or so to calm down from a loss in the first moto that led to some expletives toward another rider, Webb is no longer in a bad mood.

Winning takes care of that.

Webb, of North Carolina, finished second in the first moto of the 250 class on Saturday, then won the second moto, giving him the overall title at the Peterson CAT Washougal National at Washougal MX Park.

“It turned out unreal,” Webb said of the winning experience.

It is the second week in a row that Webb has won, fully healed.

But his ego was bruised in the first moto when Marvin Musquin of France passed him for the lead late. As Webb appeared ready to re-gain the lead, the two riders hit lapped traffic, slowing both down. Then there were a couple contested turns and jumps, and, well, both riders went off the course at different times.

Musquin got to the checkered flag first, then he heard an obscenity that was directed his way.

Webb, though, got the win in the second moto, and he apologized to Musquin before post-race interviews.

“I was definitely just a young, dumb kid running my mouth,” Webb said.

A young rising star of the series, too.

“It shows I can win races,” he said.

He damaged ligaments in an ankle earlier this season and came back ahead of schedule.

“In my opinion I didn’t rush,” Webb said. “A lot of my team thought I did. I knew what I had.”

Points leader Jeremy Martin actually passed Webb late in the second moto. And with Musquin in third place at the time, Webb knew he had to win the moto to take the overall.

Martin crashed on lap 14. Webb and Musquin passed, and Webb held off Musquin this time for the victory. Both riders earned 47 points, but any ties for the overall are broken by the best finish in the second moto.

The first moto was intense from the start. The rain that hit Clark County was still falling at the MX Park, turning the course into muddy, slippery. Then there was the aggressive battle for position.

“It was frustrating to get beat like that,” Webb said. “It was tough for me. I was pumped I could go back in there, get in the mix (for the second moto).”

“I went off the track. He went off the track. It was a great battle,” Musquin said. “I almost went down a couple times.”

Musquin did not win the overall, but a case can be made he had the best day. His 47 points were 15 more than Martin, the current points leader. Going into the final three events of the series, Martin’s lead over Musquin is down to four points.

“It’s a really cool championship right now,” Musquin said. “It’s great for the fans. It’s exciting.”

Aaron Plessinger of Ohio went 5-4 to finish third overall.