“I was in [the press conference] the two years before, and not much had transpired from there,” he says with a laugh, alluding to two disappointing seasons with the factory Yamaha team. “I wasn’t surprised by it at all. But I remember someone saying one of those guys weren’t gonna get a top ten—and knowing that could include myself. So to see how things turned out at the end of the year, it was definitely an incredible turnaround.”

Indeed. Webb, who had just two career 450SX podiums before the season, logged 7 race wins, 13 podiums, and the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. For that, he earns Racer X Rider of the Year status for the second time (he previously took our top annual honor in 2016).

How did he come so far, so fast? It appears like he changed everything—but just enough has stayed the same.

hen Webb graduated from the 250 class with three championships (two 250SX West and a 250 Pro Motocross title), it kicked off two 2016 free-agent frenzies. First, teams wanted to sign him (he stayed in the Yamaha fold for big bucks); second was the search for the inevitable East Coast training base, now a staple of most top-level 450 riders. Florida has become the standard destination, but Webb chose to operate in his home state of North Carolina. He’d had success training through the summer of ’16 at South of the Border, a riding facility tucked right behind an I-95 tourist trap. SOB’s track was good, but the local accommodations didn’t win many fans, so Webb began searching more toward Charlotte, about three hours west. His first call, of course, was to Coy Gibbs, owner of the JGRMX squad, to see if he could lease time at JGR’s track. Gibbs wouldn’t budge, which made Webb wonder if signing with factory Yamaha instead of Coy’s own team made the relationship difficult. However, he also feels that if JGR wanted him badly enough, they could have come close to Yamaha’s offer.

No matter, he soon found some land courtesy of a local family that raced amateur motocross and Grand National Cross Country. Webb got the space for free—he just had to spend the money to build out the tracks, race shop, and the rest. The next year, his old Star Racing Yamaha teammates joined him there, and seeds were planted.

“I thought it was the best thing ever at the time,” he says. “I put a lot more money into my outdoor program the following year, for ’18, but I ended up getting hurt again. But the tracks, I thought, were really nice, and the training we did was good as well.”

Webb’s results floundered nonetheless. He needed a big change, so he ended up going from Monster Energy Yamaha to Red Bull KTM—which included training with Aldon Baker in, yep, Florida.

“I personally think it’s through the tough times that you learn the most,” Webb offers. “I saw what I was doing wrong, and that led to the changes I made, going to a different team being the biggest one. I was fortunate enough [that] there was an opportunity to go to KTM. But by no means was I expecting this year. There was really no pressure. I had a two-year deal, and everyone was pretty honest about it. We were on the same page—let’s get back on track, get in shape, try to finish a full season. I’ve said it a million times: as a team, our goal was to win one race.”

As for leaving North Carolina behind, Webb thinks the management in Florida, not the state itself, helps the most.

“The difference I’ve noticed now is not having that burden of having your own track,” he says. “We’d all be texting the night before, ‘Hey did it rain? Which [other] track should we go to? What time? Let me call my mechanic and tell him to bring my bike to another track.’ It added logistics that I don’t have to deal with anymore in Florida. I still enjoy North Carolina—there’s a bunch of good people I became friends with, and I think it’s a great spot. I would love to go back there someday, maybe toward the end of my career, now that I have more knowledge. I think it has a lot of potential.”

You already know how his transition to KTM, Florida, and Baker turned out (see “Tech Support” May ’19). But while so much of his life has changed—where he lives, what he rides, how he trains, his results—heck, he even got engaged in September—his true friends will tell you Cooper is still the same old Cooper.

Only it’s not the guy you’d expect.

ue to his wide-open 250 days, when Webb developed an edge in podium interviews and played mind games with his competitors, he will always carry an air of arrogance in the mind of some fans. This year he backed that act way down, never teeing off verbally on old rival Ken Roczen despite ample opportunities with last-turn passes for wins. His one allotted trash-talk moment came when he said old amateur rival Adam Cianciarulo had “cracked” in Las Vegas. That was during a moment of championship jubilation. But even when given the chance to say “I told you so” and gloat over not being invited to the stage at the opening press conference, he doesn’t take it.

“I’ve always been lucky because I don’t get offended,” he says. “It’s hard to have thick skin, but I think what honestly helped me there was going to regular [public] school and getting shit-talked every day just like anyone else. That will definitely toughen you up.”

Regular school, regular guy.

“Shoot, I was nobody compared to the high-school quarterback,” he says.

Three years ago, when Webb was building his North Carolina posse, he established a network of buddies—some racers, some regular Joes. When he moved and then found success, it presented the chance to leave his old friends behind. Instead, the posse remains intact. It’s a bit of a secret society, so don’t expect YouTube videos like Jason Anderson’s #TeamFried, but the general vibe might just be the same. Life for these riders, when hanging with friends, is a lot less focused on serious racing than you might imagine.

The group Webb is in is called 2.5. That’s about all anyone will reveal.

“Man, 2.5, how did you know about that?” Seth Rarick asks.

Seth is a former pro who became Webb’s buddy, then his trainer, working under the guidance of Gareth Swanepoel. They set up the North Carolina program, until Webb had to leave. Rarick, wanting to prove himself on his own, stayed and built a new group, working with those still there, like Jacob Hayes, Brandon Hartranft, and JGR riders Jimmy Decotis and, for a bit of time, Justin Hill. Rarick no longer works with Webb, but the relationship never faltered.

“I feel like I’ve always had a pretty balanced personal life—I enjoy doing normal stuff,” Webb says. “I’m friends with some non-moto people. Even this off-season, I went back to Charlotte and got to hang out with everybody. North Carolina is where I call home, and I don’t want to push it away totally. I just look at Florida, as I’m there for work.”

But when Webb’s bonus check came and the #1 plate was printed, he could have easily gone next-level with his peer group. Maybe go prowl the golf courses in Orlando, home to many millionaire athletes. There are plenty of new trappings for a supercross champion. Instead, it’s still 2.5.

“That’s how I was always brought up, and that’s how I live my life,” Webb says. “I happen to be good on a dirt bike. I feel like that’s what God blessed me with. But I’m not better than anyone else. 2.5 is pretty tight-knit. There’s only maybe ten or twelve of us, and I’d say only four of us even ride.”

After the season, members of 2.5 embarked on a big old end-of-season booze cruise. Even everyone’s favorite lovable grump, Phil Nicoletti, a 2.5 member, was on board, happy to be angry.

As luck would have it, Rarick and Webb reunited at the end of the year. With Tyla Rattray moving on, the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull KTM and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna teams needed a new trainer for their 250 riders. The position would be based at Baker’s Factory. On this topic, Rarick only called Webb once, to see if there was indeed an opening. Rarick handled the rest himself, calling Baker and pitching his skills, not wanting to get a gig only because of Webb’s recommendation. Eventually, Rarick got the job.

“But it’s the same thing now,” Rarick says. “Coop will ride all day and I’ll be out there, too, but you probably wouldn’t even know we’re friends. It’s just all business and work. Then as soon as we’re done, he’ll hit me up and ask where we should go for dinner.”

To resurrect his career and become 450SX champion, Cooper Webb had to change many things but keep other elements intact. He’s still fiery, but in a more refined manner. To ward off the pressure, he keeps the friends who were there when he was struggling and steers the conversation away from racing. Evolution is a constant process for top athletes, but they can never forget where they came from.