Cooper Webb (2) dominates the sand pit as he looks to obtain his 7th win in Arlington, Texas (Photo: Lexi Lovelace | The Podium Finish)
ARLINGTON, Texas – Under the bright lights of AT&T Stadium, Cooper Webb and Chase Sexton entered Round 7 of the SMX World Championship and the indoor stadium season of Monster Energy AMA Supercross locked in a dead heat for the 450SX championship lead. With a storied rivalry and a title fight brewing, Arlington served as the ultimate tiebreaker—a battleground where every point mattered, and history was on the line.
For Webb, a North Carolina native and two-time 450SX champion, Arlington was more than just another race. Having already etched his name in the record books as the winningest rider in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Webb sought his seventh victory at the venue and his 27th career
450SX win. More than that, he was chasing a third title, a feat that would cement his legacy among the sport’s greats.
Sexton, hailing from La Moille, Illinois, had different plans. Known for his raw speed and relentless determination, the reigning champion had already made a statement by charging from dead last to third in a previous race. With Arlington marking his 47th career 450SX start, he was eager to break the tie, regain control of the red plate, and prove his championship mettle.
With everything on the line, the night unfolded in dramatic fashion. Would Webb’s experience and race craft secure him yet another Arlington victory, or would Sexton’s grit and aggression rewrite the script?
Riders stage to prepare for the Triple Crown (Photo: Lexi Lovelace | The Podium Finish)
A Chaotic Start
Justin Cooper grabbed the holeshot in Race 1, but it didn’t take long for Sexton to charge into third, setting the stage for an early showdown with Webb. As the two title contenders battled, Webb found himself struggling to move forward while Sexton applied pressure at the front.
A late mistake from Ken Roczen nearly cost him the win, but a strong drive through the whoops secured him the victory. Cooper settled for second, while Sexton rounded out the podium. Webb, still searching for his rhythm, crossed the line in sixth.
Justin Cooper (93) carves a path for Sexton who is close behind (Photo: Lexi Lovelace | The Podium Finish)
“The first one was honestly just a bad start,” Webb admitted. “I rode great, just went way too wide in the first turn and got pushed back. You just can’t do that in a Triple Crown, especially the first one when everyone’s really going for it.”
The Turning Point
In Race 2, the championship fight intensified. Cooper once again jumped out to the early lead, with Sexton and Webb in pursuit. Sexton made an aggressive pass attempt in the sand, but a mistake in the rhythm section allowed Cooper to reclaim the spot. As Cooper closed the door, Sexton clipped his rear wheel and went down, giving Webb a clear path to the front.
Webb capitalized, reeling in Cooper and making a decisive pass for the lead. Meanwhile, Sexton mounted a furious charge, closing the gap late, but Webb held strong to take the victory. With Sexton and Cooper tied in points heading into the final race, the overall win was still on the line.
Chase Sexton (4) closing on Cooper Webb (2) in a tight battle for the lead (Photo: Lexi Lovelace | The Podium Finish)
A Costly Error
With the championship rivals in a dead heat, the final race was set to determine the night’s winner. Sexton quickly climbed into third, with Webb shadowing his every move. Just as the battle was heating up, disaster struck—Sexton stalled his bike exiting a turn, allowing Webb to slip past.
Determined to fight back, Sexton made another charge but clipped Webb’s rear wheel and went down. A lapped rider collided with him, making matters worse, and in a final blow, he was block-passed in the last turn, dropping him to fifth at the checkered flag.
“Yeah, I mean, there’s always a lot of noise, a lot of people talking, but at the end of the day, I judge myself on how I feel,” reflected a frustrated Sexton on another missed opportunity. “It’s tough mentally, especially when I felt really good tonight. It’s unfortunate.”
Webb’s 6-1-1 scoreline secured him the overall win, while Roczen claimed second and Sexton settled for third.
As Sexton sat dejected on the berm, Webb celebrated his seventh Arlington victory and took control of the championship standings, now leading by five points.
“This place has been good to me, and tonight was another wild one,” Webb said. “I just kept fighting, and in the end, it paid off. We’ll keep pushing, and I’m looking forward to keeping this momentum rolling.”
Cooper Webb (2) secured his 7th victory at the AT&T Stadium. The back-to-back champion has reclaimed the thrown for the second year in a row following his win at Arlington in 2024 (Photo: Lexi Lovelace | The Podium Finish)
Eyes on Daytona
With the 2025 Supercross season heating up, Sexton will look for redemption next week, while Webb aims to tighten his grip on the title. The riders now set their sights on Daytona Int’l Speedway, an entirely different challenge known for its deep sand, brutal rhythms, and motocross style layout.
Webb, who has podiumed at the historic venue multiple times but has yet to win there, knows the opportunity ahead: “It’s a great venue for me. If it wasn’t for my teammate, I’d probably be a four-time winner there or so. But it’s a gnarly track, and you never know what to expect. Definitely feeling confident going into that one.”
“I’m losing a couple of points here and there, but the championship is so long,” said Roczen, still within striking distance in the title hunt, remaining optimistic. “I’ll keep being on the podium and just do the best I can. Hopefully, we can close the gap at some point.”
As for Sexton, the reigning champ isn’t backing down despite his recent setbacks. “There are still a lot of races to go, but this is what we train for—to be in this position. You just put a little more pressure on yourself every weekend.”
With Daytona looming, the title fight is far from over. The grueling Florida sands will test the endurance, skill, and mental toughness of every rider in the field. Webb may have gained the upper hand in Arlington, but with ten rounds remaining, the battle for the 450SX crown is only just beginning.
