It’s no easy task to become a five-time Monster Energy Supercross champion, particularly when considering the talent that came both before and after the GOAT, Ricky Carmichael. A quote made famous by him was that the season didn’t ‘start until Daytona,’ which is an interesting philosophy given Daytona usually appears just after the halfway mark. Now, Cooper Webb is adopting that same type of strategy.

Image: Octopi Media.

Firstly, multiple factors contributed to Carmichael’s success. An unrivaled training program, intense accountability, and an unwavering desire to be the best – these are all well-documented constituents of what created the legend. However, the previously mentioned quote, particularly relating to Supercross, is of interesting analysis.

As most know, the season starts well before Daytona, officially taking off at the iconic Angel Stadium in Anaheim annually for the opening round dubbed ‘A1.’ So what was it that Carmichael meant, and why was the emphasis placed on the Daytona International Speedway event?

Supercross is a war of attrition as much as it is anything else. Riders not only do battle with each other on track, but battle the actual circuit itself, too, which was perhaps made most evident recently in Tampa, where a range of contenders bowed out of this year’s championship due to injury.

Additionally, there are heightened egos on display early in the season, which usually stretches the duration of the first five or so rounds. Who made the most gains in the off-season? Who wants to send a message early that they are the guy to beat? This makes for unpredictability during those stages, with things flattening out as the championship progresses.

One might ask, what was the upside to both Jett Lawrence (Honda HRC Progressive) and Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) placing a 17-second margin of victory on the third-placed Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider Cooper Webb during round two of this year’s series in San Diego? Fast-forward a further five races and the answer is absolutely nothing.

Image: Octopi Media.

It must be said that Carmichael had plenty of speed to burn and was well towards the front of the field during his entire Supercross career, rarely missing a podium finish. However, what RC meant by his Daytona reference likely was that it was integral to be in the hunt at that point of the season, then the fight for the championship could begin.

So, what is the applicability of this axiom in 2025? The answer can be found at the feet of the current 450SX red-plate holder, Cooper Webb.

A dual 450SX champion, Webb entered the new season – as he has done for much of his career – under the radar. Lawrence and Tomac stole the headlines alongside Chase Sexton (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) as the contenders, in addition to other storylines, such as current MXGP world champion Jorge Prado’s (Monster Energy Kawasaki) entrance into the category.

And all the while, there was Webb, unfazed by the glitz and glamour that the new season would bring along with the associated hype. A quiet fourth-place finish at A1, followed by another straightforward third-place ride in San Diego, again flew beneath the radar as Lawrence, Tomac, and Sexton took the spotlight.

Nevertheless, Webb stuck to course, avoiding the temptation to get involved in the ego contest, which characterizes the opening rounds, opting for a ‘get out of the west in the mix’ strategy. Sound familiar? This is another variation of RC’s season starting in Daytona mantra.

Image: Octopi Media.

Sure enough, once the dust settled after the first five rounds, with both Lawrence brothers, Tomac, Prado, and more bowing out to injury, Webb found his time to strike, capturing his first 450SX main event win inside Detroit’s Ford Field, and drawing level with Sexton in the championship points race.

One week later, in another masterclass of patience and smarts, Webb captured his second 450SX win of the season during Arlington’s Triple Crown, with the wheels gathering momentum and beginning to roll ever faster on the Webb wagon.

If there is a current rider who embodies Carmichael’s philosophy and applies it to his craft, it’s Webb. Notoriously known for his high race IQ and smarts on track, the North Carolina native also knows how to play the game of a championship, sticking it out for the long haul and being in it when it counts.

Does that mean that he sits outside the conversation from the outset? Or suffered a significant defeat in round two of the championship? Perhaps. But it also means that he is consistently there when it counts, when the championship enters its dog days – when the championship gets to Daytona.