Image: Octopi Media.

A return to the prototype WP air-shock isn’t yet being ruled out by Red Bull KTM’s Cooper Webb, despite winning both Orlando main events on the spring option.

Webb spent the week leading into Orlando 2 testing with his team in Florida and was left satisfied in progress made with the air-shock, however, it was decided to retain the spring.

It’s understood that after sampling the air-shock through the opening rounds of 2021 Monster Energy Supercross including when he won Houston 3, Webb reverted to spring at Indianapolis 3, where he finished runner-up. He’s since won both Orlandos.

“The air-shock has such massive potential, but we weren’t able to really get as much testing as we were hoping to in the off-season just due to lack of parts, really,” explained Webb. “The team was here this week and I felt like we actually made great progress with the air-shock.

“I was feeling really good and confident with it this week, but man, it’s one of those things, do you change what you just won on last Saturday? For me, I wasn’t willing to do that. Like you alluded to, I think after that first Orlando when everything was clicking it was just something that was just ‘hey, that’s the go-to’.”

While Webb was on the spring-shock at Orlando 2, he led a factory KTM 1-2 directly ahead of teammate Marvin Musquin, who continues to work with the air-shock and has been on air despite Webb’s recent switch back to spring. TLD Red Bull GasGas’ Justin Barcia also won the Houston opener on air.

“In this class and in this sport, we’re always improving and trying to get better so we’ll work on some things and see what we end up with at Daytona,” Webb concluded, now six points outside of Ken Roczen (Team Honda HRC) entering round nine at Daytona on Saturday, 6 March.