When the second place OA finisher goes 10-1 for 2nd, you know some crazy stuff happened.
When the second place OA finisher goes 10-1 for 2nd, you know some crazy stuff happened.
First things first, congratulations to Alex Martin on finally nailing a moto win in his strongest series ever. He’s been so damn good with two overall wins to his credit now. You’d think the overall win at round two in Glen Helen would serve to satiate the perennial nice guy but it only wet his appetite and made the six-race drought more painful. Alex finds himself a mere four points out of 2nd place in the series and that has much to do with his Yamaha giving up the ghost in moto-one of “Martin-Gate” aka, High Point. Alex was running 2nd in that race by the way when his bike started failing with 3 laps to go. Spot Alex those points that were ripped from his grasp and he is the guy pressuring teammate Cooper Webb for this title in the waning rounds of the series. It’s just not fair.
As it stands now Cooper retainds the points lead by fifty-one over second place Jeremy Martin who was the victim of collateral damage in the moto-two first lap antics between Cooper and the fluctuating Savatgy.
Upod first glance it looked simple to me. Joey Savatgy has been dealing with a confidence problem which is an extenuating circumstance of his fatigue in a year where he has found himself in the hunt for two titles, yet never fully grasping the reins of either. Most people would agree that Joey’s inability to capitalize in the whoops of Millville meant this title was all but over for the ebbing and flowing #37 Pro Circuit rider. Joey saw Cooper in his sights in the opening corners of moto-two while out front and he took a shot at making something happen. I didn’t see it necessarily as dirty, just more of a “Chad Reed on James Stewart in Vegas 2009” type of move. Chad’s move was executed perfectly(though in the end uselessly), Joey’s only served as the metaphoric stick poking the bee’s nest.
One of the most intriguing characteristics of Cooper Webb is his southern don’t give a shit, don’t mess with me attitude. He does not care if you approve of his point of view, race-craft, podium talk or really anything. He just is who he is and apologizes for none of it. He’s not lacking in testosterone and may honestly have a marginally alarming percentage of acid running through those veins because homeboy is hot to trot!
He thrives off of racing mad and when Savatgy initiated contact, the stories ending had all but written itself. Cooper came back quick and poignantly, if not completely ill-timed and ill advised. He lost his shit a little bit and really put himself in a situation that could have ended really badly for his championship title hunt.
In the end he and Savatgy were separated by only three points on the day and thanks to Jeremy Martin’s collateral damage, only Alex Martin’s Washougal did any damage to the 37 and 17.
I gotta wonder though if in his last few races aboard a 250, Factory Yamaha is watching this thinking that they are excited to have such a firecracker under their awning; or are they rolling their eyes trying to figure out how to explain the big picture and maturity to a kid who thrives off of instigating and responding?
I don’t see the size of the fight in Cooper being worked out anytime soon and while that may mean growing pains for he and Yamaha in 2017, it just means popcorn and excitement for all of us.
