Cooper Webb Interview: Daytona Press Day
March 01, 2024
How's your day going so far?
So far so good man. We're here Daytona and the sun's shining for now, so happy.What do you think of the track design this year?
I honestly haven't even looked at it to be honest. I don't ever check the track maps, but we get to do press today, so that'll be cool to kind of shake it down and get a feel.Is that intentional? Not checking track maps?
Yeah, I guess I don't, I shouldn't say I don't care enough, but yeah, it's just whatever we got, we have to deal with.I've been really impressed with your raw speed this year.It feels like this is like the fastest version we've seen of you. Do you agree with that?
Yeah, I do. I've always been super strong, but I feel like now this year I've had races where I've actually been the fastest guy, which is really cool. Qualifying has gone overall a lot better for me and that's something that I've typically struggled with. So yeah, I'm happy with that. Obviously I think the change helped; got me a little more comfortable and the program has been really good. I still have great fitness and great racecraft, but my speed has definitely been the best it's ever been probably.What do you like about the Yamaha compared to KTM last year?
I think for me the suspension side of things have just really clicked. You know, I really love the air forks that we run and that's something that I ran always as a 250 rider. So I think for me it's just comfort and familiarity and that's something that I really love once I got on this Yamaha.We're almost halfway through the championship and I think it's kind of starting to get determined who are title contenders and who are not. What do you think it's gonna take to win or take it all the way to the end?
Ah man, you never know. This year so far has felt much different than years before, so I think it's gonna be a dog fight to the very end; I don't think that you can let up. I think it's gonna be coming in and trying to execute and really go for race wins. I really think that's gonna get it done this year. So we'll see. Obviously I'm gonna do what I can to control my own destiny and be consistent and smart and all that, but I think it's too early to roll over or start being conservative or anything like that. It's gonna be fighting, honestly right down to the last race.It's crazy. Normally at this point in the season you have like two or three riders that are truly favorites, but this year I feel like there's still five, six guys that can potentially take it.
For sure. And that's how it's been, right? I think we've had so many different winners, so many different podiums. You can see now who's maybe becoming the title guys, but it's still way more than last year, even years before. I feel like it's normally a two to three man race by this point and it's a lot more than that right now. So it makes it cool, makes it know that you're racing the best guys in the world and that everyone's at the top of their game. I think it's gonna make for a special season.Does that make it mentally tougher for you?
Oh, for sure. Like I said, at this point you kind of know who you can beat and who you can’t. But this year you don’t know. There's 10 guys still that can get in the mix and that's great for fans and it's gonna keep things interesting, that's for sure.After last race, there was a photo where it looked like you were flipping someone off? Fans were confused as to who it might be directed to, could you explain what was going on there?
Yeah, everyone's been talking about it and like I told them - I use my middle finger as my clutch finger and I came off the jump with it out, and honestly they got the perfect shot at the perfect time.
