Scritto domenica 24 Gennaio 2021 alle 22:04.
COOPER WEBB DELIVERS RED BULL KTM FIRST 450SX WIN OF 2021
HOUSTON – Il Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team ha lasciato un timbro alla sua ultima notte di residenza a Houston sabato mentre Cooper Webb ha guidato la carica per salire sul podio della 450SX con un’impressionante prestazione finale al Round 3 del 2021 AMA Supercross Championship. L’esordiente Maximus Vohland continua a migliorare e impressionare, raggiungendo il miglior sesto posto della stagione nella divisione 250SX Eastern Regional.
Dopo un inizio di stagione difficile, Webb e il team sono tornati al tavolo da disegno con un piano pronto per la gara che si è rivelato nientemeno che solido quando sono usciti vittoriosi per la prima volta in questa stagione. Nella 450SX Heat 1, Webb ha portato la sua KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION a una partenza al terzo posto e ha corso per un solido terzo. Nel Main Event, è uscito oscillando per catturare l’holeshot e il primo vantaggio. È stato superato da Ken Roczen dopo pochi giri, ma ha mantenuto un ritmo sostenuto per mantenere il leader a breve distanza per tutta la gara. Webb ha colmato il divario su Roczen negli ultimi giri per creare un’intensa battaglia testa a testa nel giro finale. Schivando il traffico in una corsa verso il traguardo, Webb è stato in grado di superare Roczen nelle curve finali per assicurarsi la vittoria.
Webb: “È stata una gara combattuta per tutto il tempo e Kenny [Roczen] ha corso una gara solida senza molti errori. La pista era davvero difficile, facile da superare e diventare impaziente. I doppiati alla fine sono stati un peccato averli li, sentivo che stavamo per fare una bella battaglia, e ovviamente l’abbiamo fatta, ma i doppiati sono stati davvero duri stasera. Sono rimasto lì e mi sono lanciato in quell’ultimo giro e l’ho realizzato. Devo davvero ringraziare la mia squadra, sono fantastici “.
Musquin, che è arrivato sabato al terzo posto in punti 450SX, ha vissuto una notte difficile. Dopo aver ottenuto un inizio tra i primi tre nella 450SX Heat 2, Musquin era nella prima battaglia per il comando quando un altro pilota è entrato in lui uscendo dalle whoops, lasciando il pilota francese a terra all’inizio. Perdendo molto tempo nel caos, Musquin ha fatto una carica impressionante dal 19 ° fino in fondo per assicurarsi un trasferimento all’ottavo posto nel Main Event. Con una scelta di gate non così favorevole per il main, Musquin ha faticato a scendere in modo netto e si è ritrovato a terra nel primo giro. Ha fatto ancora una volta una carica dal fondo del gruppo, dove alla fine è arrivato 13 °.
Musquin: “Non sono partito molto bene con la gara di qualifica, ero in una posizione decente ma Malcom Stewart mi ha superato la fine degli whoops, mi ha bloccato e sono caduto. Sono tornato all’ottavo posto, il che era decente per la heat, non volevo andare alla LCQ. In linea di massima ero all’esterno, non sono riuscito a fare una grande partenza e non sono riuscito a chiudere i ragazzi alla mia destra. Sono andato troppo veloce oltre il muro e ho colpito Friese, non so cosa sia successo, ma dopo quello ero morto per ultimo. Ho fatto del mio meglio per recuperare più punti possibile. Sono molto deluso, ma pronto per una settimana di lavoro e per tornare più forte “.
Prossima gara: Indianapolis, Indiana – 30 gennaio 2021
HOUSTON 3 SUPERCROSS 2021 – Results! VIDEO GARE!
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COOPER WEBB DELIVERS RED BULL KTM FIRST 450SX WIN OF 2021
HOUSTON – The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team put a stamp on their final night of residency in Houston on Saturday as Cooper Webb led the charge to top the 450SX podium with an impressive closing performance at Round 3 of the 2021 AMA Supercross Championship. Rookie Maximus Vohland continues to improve and impress, racing his way to a season-best sixth-place in the 250SX Eastern Regional division.
Following a rough start to the season, Webb and the team went back to the drawing board with a ready to race plan that proved to be nothing less than solid as they emerged victorious for the first time this season. In 450SX Heat 1, Webb powered his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION to a third-place start and he raced it in for a solid third. In the Main Event, he came out swinging to capture the holeshot and early lead. He got passed by Ken Roczen a few laps in but he maintained a strong pace to keep the leader within striking distance all race long. Webb closed the gap on Roczen in the final laps to create an intense head-to-head battle on the final lap. Dodging lapped traffic in a dash to the finish, Webb was able to edge out Roczen in the final turns to secure the win.
Webb: “It was a close race the whole time and Kenny [Roczen] rode a solid race with not many mistakes. The track was really tricky, easy to over-ride and get impatient. The lappers there at the end was a bummer, I felt like we were going to have a really good battle, and obviously we did, but the lappers were really tough tonight. I hung in there and I pounced on that last lap and made it happen. I’ve really got to give it up to my team, they’re amazing.”
Musquin, who came into Saturday tied for third in 450SX points, experienced a tough night all around. Grabbing a top-three start in 450SX Heat 2, Musquin was in the early battle for the lead when another rider came into him exiting the whoops, leaving the French rider on the ground early on. Losing substantial time in the chaos, Musquin made an impressive charge from 19th all the way up to secure an eighth-place transfer into the Main Event. With a not-so-favorable gate choice for the main, Musquin struggled to get off the line cleanly and found himself down on the opening lap. He once again made a charge from the back of the pack, where he ultimately finished 13th.
Musquin: “I started off not so good with the heat race, I was in a decent position but Malcom Stewart overshot the end of the whoops, blocked me and I went down. I got back to 8th, which was decent for the Heat race, I did not want to go to the LCQ. In the main I was on the outside, and couldn’t get a great start, and couldn’t close the guys on my right. I went too quick over the wall and hit Friese, I don’t know what happened, but after that I was dead last. I tried my best to make up as many points as possible. I’m very disappointed, but ready for a week of work and to come back stronger.”
Vohland got off to a great second-place start in 250SX Heat 2 and he powered his way into the lead by the second lap. Leading the first five heat-race laps of his young career, Vohland eventually got passed by a class-veteran and he raced his way to a solid second. In the Main Event, Vohland shot off the line aboard his KTM 250 SX-F to capture a great top-three position off the start and he diced back-and-forth in podium contention early on. He encountered a minor setback with a broken spring in his shifter but he adapted and overcame the issue to ultimately secure sixth overall and take one step closer to a career-first top-five finish.
Vohland: “Tonight was great! The heat race was awesome, I got off to a really good start and was able to get out front early and lead a majority of the laps. I felt really comfortable riding up front. In the main, I got off to another good start and I got into third early and was hanging onto those guys but I got into a run-in with another guy and ended up breaking a spring in my shifter. I couldn’t shift and I let that get to me a little bit but I was still able to come back and get sixth so overall it was an awesome night. I learned a lot and I’m looking forward going into Indy.”
Next Race: Indianapolis, Indiana – January 30, 2021
HOUSTON 3 SUPERCROSS 2021 – Results! VIDEO GARE!
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