by Chris O'Neal
Monday Conversation: Cooper Webb
Monday, November 26, 2012 | 10:50 AM
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PrintNorth Carolina native and Star Racing Yamaha prospect Cooper Webb has arguably been the hottest amateur in the country the second half of the season. After capturing first and second place finishes at Loretta Lynn’s, Webb went on to win the Amateur All-Star class at the Monster Energy Cup and is fresh of winning six of eight titles in his A class debut at the Mini O’s. We caught with Webb to talk about his dominant week, his 2012 season and his plans moving forward.
Racer X: Hey, Cooper. How did the 2012 Mini O’s go for you?
Cooper Webb: The week went really good. I won six of eight titles and didn’t finish off the podium all week. The bike was awesome. The whole Star Racing crew came down and me and my mechanic, Matt, really had the bike dialed. Honestly, couldn’t be much happier.
Shane McElrath won a couple of titles and Dakota Alix and Jace Owen, among others, had great weeks. What were your thoughts on the competition?
The competition was tough. It’s the A Class, so its going to be really stacked. It was definitely the most stacked class [A Class] of the event, I would say. I was lucky to get some good starts in the 250 Class, but kind of struggled with starts in the 450 Class because I was riding a 250. I had to come from the back a couple of times, so it was cool to race in all kind of different elements.
Webb had an amazing week in his A class debut, taking six of eight titles at the Mini O's.
Rob Koy photo
So you were riding a 250 in the 450 Class?
I don’t have a 450 and have never ridden a 450—I’m pretty small still. I wasn’t going to do the 450 classes, but at the last minute I decided I might as well give it a try. I rode the 250 in all the 450 classes, and it went a lot better than I expected. It was cool to have to push the limits in the 450 Class on the 250.
You’ve had a terrific 2012 season. How would you sum up your year?
This year went really well for me. I was able to win championships at every amateur national I went to. I got a first and second at Loretta Lynn’s and then went and won the Monster Energy Cup. Mini O’s was my first amateur national in the A Class and it went really well. I think going into next year and the amateur nationals, I’m prepared as I’ve ever been.
The plan for me is to kind of get ready. I think I’m going to do the two Texas amateur nationals and the plan is for right now to start my professional career at Hangtown and race the entire 2013 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship. So I’ll be preparing for that and try to get as ready as I can.
Are you currently living and doing all your training down at South of the Border?
South of the Border MX is really cool; it’s on the border of North Carolina and South Carolina. I live about three hours away from there and go there when I can. That is where I spend most of my time riding and training because I feel that is the best place I can go. I also train a lot with Gary Bailey. I still live at my house in Newport, North Carolina, but I go down at South of the Border and ride quite a bit.
Basically you ride there when you can, but do your own training schedule at home in Newport?
I go kind of everywhere. For me, the more different tracks I can ride the better. That’s one of the cool things about South of the Border—they have four different tracks there to ride (three outdoors tracks, an SX track, an Arenacross track and tons of trails.) I would like to stay at home more, but there aren’t really any tracks close to my house, so it kind of forces me to travel. But I really enjoy my time at South of the Border and feel like my program has really improved.
It is expected that Webb will make his pro debut at Hangtown in 2013.
Rob Koy photo
Tell me about your relationship with Star and Yamaha, how’s that going?
It’s going really well. I just finished my first year with them, and have two more to go. Since I first meet Bobby [Regan, Star Racing team owner] and everyone at Yamaha, they have kind of taken me under their wing and it feels like a big family over there. I'm really excited to keep working with them and just getting better and better.
Transitioning back to the Mini O’s. Which did you prefer better, the supercross or motocross portion?
It’s kind of hard to say. I really liked the supercross track, but I grew up racing outdoors. The Mini O’s and Monster Energy Cup are the only two times you get to race supercross, so I really like that. I would say I enjoyed supercross better, because it’s such a unique race and we never get to race supercross.
Thanks again, Cooper. Anyone you would like to thank?
I would like to thank my whole family—my mom and dad. My mechanic Matt, Gary Bailey, Tim Crytser [Racer X Virtual Trainer] everyone at Yamaha and the Star Racing team. Rockstar, Metal Mulisha, Skullcandy, Leatt Brace, South of the Border Training Facility, MSR, Bell Helmets, Smith Goggles, Alpinestars, Dunlop, Pro Taper, Enzo Suspension, EVS, Flow Designs, the whole Stewart family and JS7 Entertainment.
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Not that it makes it right, but the SX series has been sponsored by a beer company and a cigarette company (accused of marketing to minors) in the past, so its not like energy drinks are a huge drop, from a moral standpoint. They've definitely put a lot of money into the sport, so there would be a big void if the left.
I find it more interesting that he thanked the whole Stewart family and JS7 Entertainment, what is the connection there??
Cooper is friends with the Stewart family and they have been gracious enough to allow him to ride at their complex in Florida on several occasions. The last time he was there JS7 had a day off of the bike and was kind enough to give him a few pointers. Although Professor Gary Bailey is Cooper's long-time MX Coach, everyone was stoked that JS7 took the time and an interest in Cooper's success. Cooper also recently participated in the JS7 Ride Day, a great event where JS7 gave some amateurs a chance to ride his tracks as a reward for their wins at Freestone.
I was responding to a comment that was subsequently removed. It probably seemed like a strange thing to bring up out of the blue.
Let's hope he stays healthy as the Outdoor nationals approach. I love the wild card of a rookie coming into that series, rather than SX.
@mxbob....Sure I remember those days. Free Camels and Skoal at the races, a minors dream. Even then riders, especially kids, weren't allowed to take money from Camel etc., MC's Bud deal was a big hoopla. Today, kids are directly sponsored by a product that states on its' own can not recommended for children. With these companies being looked at by politicians it spells doom for all this sponsor money. All the money in the world doesn't guarantee our sport will be better, bigger and more appealing to fans. Who says it needs to be anyway.
wasn't removed..computer problems..
Even if they find causation between the energy drinks and the reported fatalities, anything the politicians do with just be a big show, like requiring the warning labels to be bigger, especially if the Koch brothers or any of the other puppeteers of our government have a stake in any of the companies.
I completely get you point. Kids don't know that the can they are holding up and drinking on the podium is just water.
I have a few Rockstar water podium cans that make cool collectables.
Moto is a family sport, that's how we all know kids are stupid and we should take advantage of them, lie to them about what we drink, and sponsor them with things that harm them.
Thats pretty cool what Stewart has done for that kid. Something is working cause that dude is killing it right now. To win 6 out of 8 A class titles and do it all on a 250 is crazy.
It is apparent to me that the talent that exists is substantially enhanced by the addition of "the entourage". The pro teams, the pro coaches, living and riding with the existing top pros, and the pro mechanics there to keep your practice bike on song.
I truely believe that there will never be another Hannah - some kid working in a local shop by day and mixing it up with the bigs on the weekends. The gap is just too large to be bridged solely by talent.
This leads me to my next point - only the talented kids with significantly resourced parents will be left. If you don't choose your parents carefully, then having the heart of RC and the precision of Windham will do you no good.
I guess it is the same with every other motorsport - truly the top of our chosen sport is the domain of the well heeled nobility.
^ It true we may miss out on talented kids who just don't have the "life chance" that others have. This is a sad bi-product of big sponsors equalling big money which comes back to "growing the sport" as so many here proselytize.
Unfortunately its not just motor-sports where resources put a cap on talent, all sports and small business right up to big business and government have this dilemma. The family and name we are born into is a large indicator of future notoriety and economic success. BigUgly, you've made a good case as to why the "American dream" is just a good social control device perpetuated by "the haves" while the "have nots" live month to month, or day to day. Think of all the talented black kids like JS in the projects... we will never see their talents... their only ticket outta the hood is rap or basketball. Their wheelies are world-class, but is there any rich white guys in moto who will groom any of them? Hell no, but they'll continue preaching the "American dream" and won't even listen the the points made by guys like BigUgly or anyone with a heart and desire to see everyone have a chance like was once possible.
@BigUglyManiac The Webbs are not well-healed, far from it. I hope I am not embarrassing them to post this but you if you knew the Webbs like I do, I think you would understand the sacrifices they have made for Cooper's opportunity. Cooper's mom is a public school teacher hoping to retire after almost 20 years and his dad owns a small business and struggles to make payroll and pay the bills like the rest of us. The Webbs still travel to the races in the same ten year old RV with 200,000 miles on it and a broken refrigerator and "works half the time" generator they always have. The live in a modest home that they bought after living in a one bedroom apartment for years while they saved money to buy enough land to put a house on where they could build a small practice track--- but they couldn't afford an irrigation system or heavy equipment to groom it so Cooper rides it like he finds it dust and all. Cooper attended pubic school through the 11th grade and only now does he homeschool through the public school system. His parents have always insisted on good grades as a condition of racing so many a time he would do homework while traveling all night back from a race and go to school the next day. He did not have the luxury of sleeping in that many of his home-schooled competitors did. Not only that but many a time the Webbs travelled all night to races arriving for race day only, not Friday practice, because they couldn't afford an extra day off of work, a plane ticket, an extra hotel night or an extra day of meals on the road. For many years Cooper's dad would stay up all night repairing a bike and then meet Cooper on the line for each moto even though he hadn't had any sleep. Between motos, Cooper's dad would change parts from bike to bike to keep at least one bike running so Cooper could race. Gary Bailey, Cooper's long time MX coach ended up donating his time because the Webbs couldn't afford his fees anymore and Gary just felt Cooper had too much talent to quit coaching him. But Gary Bailey made a deal with Cooper that he would only keep coaching him if Cooper did his part and kept working hard, so Cooper earned that too. So after years of this kind of sacrifice and doing the hard work to win many amateur titles, Cooper did earn some support along the way and finally now his hard work is paying off. But the Webbs are not special, they are just like other parents out there just trying to give their kid a chance. Can't you just be happy that a kid from North Carolina with nothing but talent is getting a shot?
@mxlaw----well said!! I wish other people could see what some of these young guns parents had to sacrifice to get them to where they are!! Not every young hotshot was born with "unlimited resources"--some has to earn it the hard way!!! The Webb family has my total respect. Good to see JS7 giving a little back. Give'em hell Cooper!!!
I stand corrected @mxlaw. I had no idea.
@BigUglyManiac No offense taken ... just wanted people to know Cooper as we do. Humble, appreciative and hard working.
its true for all sports nowadays, its all so competative. i raced at the pro level with little help back in the day, and my son and i ride mx for fun, since he was small.he is agood fast rider with a smooth style,he could be a fine racer. but we made a collective family decision that it was not worth it.we were not willing to risk injury as well as our financial future. (the point is coming).today he is top ranked tennis player with a good chance of playing D-1college ball. most of the kids he competes with, thier parents are loaded, they travel the country,they go to acadamies,easy 150-200 grand a year they spend.its tough to compete against. but with heart,desire,sacrifice,it can and has been done.as daunting as it can be to compete at the top of anything,the ones at the top have usually paid a pretty big price!
Well said, Dianna! I have been associated with the Webbs (helping Cooper train for a little over a year now) and I can attest to the fact that they are certainly not "privileged" when it comes to money. They are an honest, hard working, middle class family who earn every thing get. I honestly have no idea how they do what they do.