Just like that, the complexion of this year’s Monster Energy Supercross 450SX championship changes once more, with Cooper Webb delivering what was a crucial victory and a hammering blow to Chase Sexton’s recent string of momentum. Has the title been decided with Pittsburgh’s results? Absolutely not, however, this does indeed change things.

The hearts of many Supercross fans broke earlier this season when both Jett Lawrence (Honda HRC Progressive) and Eli Tomac (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) bowed out of the series due to injury, but both Webb and Sexton have since delivered what has been one of the more entertaining seasons in recent memory, and the nail-biting continues with two rounds to go.

Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Webb appropriately coined this year’s title as a ‘heads up’ duel between he and rival Sexton, which has been particularly the case since the mid-season break. Since then, removing Foxborough’s quagmire from the picture, the two have finished 1-2 in the last four of five races – a clear cut above the rest of the competition.

It’s weird to say that, because it didn’t seem long ago that Ken Roczen, Aaron Plessinger, Malcolm Stewart, among others, were right there knocking on the door, wedging themselves in between the number two and four, creating unpredictability over who could get it done on any given weekend.

Well, it’s safe to say that since round 11, this has no longer been the case. In Seattle, third-place Plessinger was 16 seconds from second-place Webb, in Philadelphia the margin was 24 seconds back to P3 Roczen, in East Rutherford Plessinger was 15 seconds from P2 Webb (and 30 seconds from a dominant Sexton), and then on the weekend, the gap was 21 seconds back to third-placed Justin Cooper.

Image: Octopi Media.

Which brings us to the popular narrative of late that Sexton was in a must-win position, having to capture victory at all the remaining races in order to tie Webb if he were to finish P2 in each encounter, to draw level with Coop and take the title on a countback.

After putting a vicious 14-second beatdown on dual champion Webb last weekend in East Rutherford, it looked like this was a serious possibility, and momentum was building that this was what we might see. Apparently, Webb wasn’t aligned with this train of thought, as he picked himself up off the floor and may have put the nail in Sexton’s coffin regarding his title chances in Pittsburgh.

To suggest anything is decided now, however, is to not fully understand motorsport. Anything can happen, from more weather, bike dramas, and first turn falls that would place some of the aforementioned riders between the two and shake things up with two rounds remaining.

But, in terms of a straight-up fight, it looks bleak, simply due to how much distance they have put between themselves and the rest of the field at this point in the season. Even after Philadelphia’s bungled start, the two sliced their way through the field and were 1-2 around the midway mark. Still, Webb was cagey about this subject in the press conference after Pittsburgh, maintaining that nothing is guaranteed.

“Everyone keeps on saying ‘Oh, just get one win’ and mathematically it’s over, but dude, that ain’t the case. Do you think it’s easy to go and get second in every race? No, it’s not,” commented Webb. “Anything can happen, it’s motorsports, and it’s not over until it’s over – mathematically, sure, this win helps, but we’ve seen the way he’s been riding, we’re giving it our all.

Image: Octopi Media.

“The same goes with Malcolm, JCoop, Kenny, AP, and all of these guys who can get in there and mix it up on any given night. This win takes some pressure off, but for me, it was more about stopping the bleeding after last weekend.”

The comment reminds me of Ryan Dungey’s ‘there is no crown’ moment in 2017, referring to the championship equation after series-leader Roczen experienced a horrific fall at Anaheim 2 that year. Both riders are taking their precautions, not wanting to tempt the motocross gods into suggesting they’ve got this thing sewn up prematurely – acknowledging the variables and not getting too far ahead of themselves.

As for Sexton, understandably, he looked pretty dejected at the press conference, as, barring something happening to Webb (which is uncharacteristic of the ever-crafty racer), that may have been his title hopes dashed, and deep down, he probably realized this. Nevertheless, the aim doesn’t change for Chase, who is still eying up race wins to see out the season, and letting the chips fall behind him.

“I wanted to win tonight, that was the goal,” reflected Sexton. “It’s a bummer not to get tonight done, but I still rode a great race, and really, it was just a dogfight. Every single race I want to win, that’s all I can do for these last races – I do need a bit of help, but my goal is to just go out there and win.”

It was indeed a dogfight, as has been the case for the last handful of races where both riders have pushed each other to the furthest realms of their capabilities. And though it’s looking like Webb, who now holds a 12-point lead with two to go, is the likely victor for 2025, anything can happen, and as he mentioned, nothing is guaranteed.

Image: Octopi Media.

The only thing that’s guaranteed is that we fans have had the pleasure of witnessing two of the best square off, and again, with how much time they’re putting into the rest of the field, it’s pretty remarkable how fast they’re going while keeping it upright.

In the past, we’ve seen Webb versus Tomac, Sexton versus Lawrence, Lawrence versus Webb, but really, for the first time, we’re seeing the Sexton versus Webb match-up, and it’s been one for the books.