Top-Five Finishes in Philadelphia for Webb and Tomac
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Webb and Tomac both just off the podium in fourth and fifth, respectively, at Philadelphia Supercross / Apr 28, 2024 /
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb and Eli Tomac made the most of a tough round inside Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. Both riders showed impressive speed throughout the day at Round 15 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship, including Tomac taking the heat race win. Rookie Justin Cooper overcame adversity and went through the LCQ to get to the main event, crossing the final finish line in 10th. The consistent finishes from the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450SX riders have given Yamaha a healthy lead in the Manufacturer Point Standings with two rounds remaining.
Webb opened the day up with a quick qualifying lap in second, setting the pace for a good day. He maintained his momentum with a strong runner-up finish in the heat race behind Tomac, giving him a good gate pick for the main event. Launching off the gate with precision, he quickly found himself among the frontrunners, running second after the opening lap. However, as the laps wore on, Webb was shuffled to third. He battled to the end, nearly holding on to a podium spot, but unfortunately he went down in the final corner after he and another rider came together. Webb rejoined to secure fourth, scoring valuable points in the championship to head to the penultimate round 12 points behind the leader.
Round 15 proved to be a mixed bag for Tomac as he navigated the challenges of the Philadelphia track. Despite starting the day with a sixth-place qualifying effort, Tomac quickly asserted his dominance in the heat race, claiming a decisive victory ahead of his teammate. With momentum on his side, Tomac launched into the main event with determination, matching Webb's impressive start and positioning himself right behind the race leader. Throughout the intense battle on the track, the Colorado rider showcased his trademark speed as he raced in third position. Unfortunately, a few mistakes near the end of the race cost him valuable ground, and he crossed the line fifth. Tomac sits third overall in the championship and heads to the penultimate round in his home state of Colorado.
Cooper had a great start to the day as he qualified behind Webb in third. He was hoping to use that speed in the heat but was caught up in an early crash that forced him to the LCQ. The New Yorker launched to the holeshot to lead every lap, but even with the LCQ win, he had a tough gate pick for the main event. After the gate drop, Cooper did not get the start he had been hoping for. He found himself near the back of the field, and he was 15th after the first lap. Undeterred, he made his way to 10th on a track that was difficult to make passes on. In his rookie season, Cooper is holding a notable eighth in the championship standings.
Next weekend, the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team will head to Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, on May 4 for Round 16 of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the SuperMotocross World Series.
Jeremy Coker – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing 450 Team Manager
“All in all, it was a good day but a tough day also. The guys rode well, but it was actually a really tough race track. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the main event we wanted, and now we are 12 points out in the championship. We aren’t giving up, though. We’ve got two more rounds and we're going to give it everything we've got.”
Cooper Webb – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #2
“It was a tough main event in Philly. The day was going pretty well. I qualified second and got second in the heat. In the main, I got a great start with Eli, in third and was able to move into second. I was riding really well, but unfortunately I got really bad arm pump again. Then it was unfortunate in the last turn, losing that spot to Jason (Anderson). So I’m pretty bummed, but we’ll regroup this week and come back swinging. This is racing, so it’s not over until it’s over.”
Eli Tomac – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #3
“It was an okay day. I had a really good heat race and some good starts out there as a whole. I started well in the main event and was in a really good position there for most of the race, and then I made a mistake or two and was passed and off the podium. I was happy with my speed but not with my overall performance in the 20-minute main event.”
Justin Cooper – Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing #32
“Practice went well, and I felt really comfortable all day. I had some bad luck with people going down around me, and I had to go to the last-chance qualifier. I feel like I rode the best I did all day in the LCQ, but I had a terrible gate pick for the main. I tried to go outside, but it didn’t work, and I had to wait for everyone. From there, it was a really hard track to pass on. I would get close and then just couldn’t make anything stick. I had to take my time and make my way up to 10th. I have to get good starts in order to be battling up front, so we’ll be working on that.”
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Philadelphia Results
2024 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 450SX Championship Standings
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