Cooper Webb Back to Winning Ways with Tampa Supercross Victory

Hunter Lawrence’s Incredible Effort Earns 250SX Class Win

TAMPA, FL – February 13, 2023 – (Motor Sports NewsWire) Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb put in an outstanding ride to earn his first win of the season at Round 6 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season in Tampa, Florida. The crowd inside Raymond James Stadium witnessed a battle of determination that saw Webb take over the lead late in the race from second place finisher Team Honda HRC’s Chase Sexton.

Raymond James Stadium hosted Tampa’s 14th year of a Monster Energy AMA Supercross event and provided the season’s traditional Military Appreciation Night. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Nabbing third place was Webb’s teammate Red Bull KTM’s Aaron Plessinger, earning his first podium finish of 2023. The round paid points not only in the 17-round supercross series but also in the all-new, 31-round SuperMotocross World Championship. In a nail-biter of a 250SX Class race, Team Honda HRC’s Hunter Lawrence took the race down to two dramatic contact passes in the final two corners to win his second consecutive race in as many rounds of the Eastern Regional 250SX Class series.

Cooper Webb was fast, strategic, and strong in Tampa. His first win of the season proved he’s a contender for another Monster Energy Supercross title. Photo Credit: Feld Motor Sports, Inc.

Sporadic rain throughout the day exacerbated the tough, changing track conditions but when the gate dropped on the 450SX Class Main Event the skies were clear. Cooper Webb was credited with the official Holeshot but Sexton’s momentum over the stripe put him directly into the lead with Webb, Plessinger, Progressive Insurance ECSTAR Suzuki’s Ken Roczen, Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Jason Anderson, and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Adam Cianciarulo in tow. Points leader and defending champion Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Eli Tomac was ninth out of the first corner.

Before one minute had run off the race clock Anderson collided with Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia. The riders tangled and dropped to the back of the pack. Three minutes into the 20-minute plus one lap Main Event Sexton had pulled a 1.7 second gap on the pack. Most fans were expecting to see Tomac battling forward, but the pace of the front runners was close and the only rider seeming to make headway was Webb.

Through the race Cooper Webb pulled within a second of Sexton on two occasions but seemed to be biding…