Two-time 450SX champion Cooper Webb has likened racing Team Honda HRC’s Jett Lawrence to a game of chess, so what moves will it take for the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider to challenge the premier class rookie for this year’s crown?

Saturday’s ninth round of Monster Energy Supercross in Birmingham saw current red plate holder Lawrence extend his points lead to 13 over Webb, the pair finishing 1-2 in the 23-lap encounter.

It marked the first time we’ve truly seen them in a position to battle, with their results seemingly contrasting each other so far this season, however, despite the anticipation as they led the field from the first turn, the fight of two championship favorites just didn’t eventuate.

Image: Octopi Media.

The generational talent of Lawrence snapped up the lead, bridged a gap between himself and the ever-crafty 28-year-old Webb before maintaining that advantage to the checkered flag, earning his fourth main event victory of season 2024 in the process.

“I said it earlier today – if it wasn’t for Jett so far this year, I’d have a lot more wins and a lot more podiums,” Webb stated. “He’s obviously a great rider, but he’s also a great starter, so it doesn’t make it any easier.

“I think it’s one of those things where he’s really good at getting out there and maintaining a pace that’s very high, but also within a comfort zone. And that’s how I felt the pace was tonight – you had to respect the track, but you’re going pretty fast.

“It’s hard, I would try lap after lap to get my lap time down… a tenth here, a tenth there. I remember one lap my board said half a second I’d caught him, but he sees that and is able to match. It’s a chess game at this point, really.”

Image: Octopi Media.

Webb, who has two main event wins and four podiums to his name this year, is certain that if he can reduce the margin to the factory Honda rider throughout a race and be within striking distance, then he’ll at least give himself a chance to capitalize on Lawrence’s mistakes. It’s where Webb excels, late in the race.

“I got the holeshot, but he passed me in the first turn,” he reflected. “I made a few mistakes, like we all kind of did, and I think those mistakes cost me. The chunk of four or three seconds at times, if I can maintain that gap, instead of it being three trying to get it to one, then who knows.”

Lawrence, who went undefeated in his rookie Pro Motocross 450MX campaign last year, is no stranger to riding in the presence of Webb, the pair having utilized the same training facility while the youthful Australian was establishing himself in the 250SX category.

Image: Octopi Media.

It’s this insight that has the 20-year-old wary in his bid for a maiden 450SX title, describing Webb as ‘lethal’ in his ability to surge at the pointy-end of races. It’s a trend that was also evident in Webb’s 2019 and 2021 titles, where he stormed to wins and podiums in the back-half of the series to ultimately earn the number one plate.

“I think it was the ’21 or ’22 off-season, Cooper was training at [what is now] the ‘Dogpound’, so I got to ride with him a lot on the 250,” Lawrence recalled. “Ever since those days, I was excited to race him because I knew you always have to be 100 percent, and he’s very crafty on the bike too.

“I’ve watched him a lot – he’s a two-time champion for a reason. It’s good learning and I know at the end parts of the race, he’s lethal. So I make sure I work my butt off at the start to try and get a bit of a gap on him so he’s not close enough… I know from previous practice days, at the end he’s a beast.”

As Monster Energy Supercross passes the halfway mark, the pair will face off once again this Saturday night at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis for the 10th stop of the 17-round series. After becoming the first rider this season to win two main events in succession, Lawrence leads Webb by 13 points at the halfway mark of the series.