Honda’s Kyle Webster impresses on his MobileX Firepower CRF450R at Redbud with a another top 10 overall after leading Moto 2!
Kyle Webster’s trip to America was a resounding success, achieving 10th and 8th overall finishes in rounds 5 and 6 of the AMA Motocross Championship. Notable highlights for Kyle Webster at Redbud included a P4 in the first qualifier this weekend and leading moto 2 in the highly competitive and intense 450 class.
In moto 1 Webster had a hard-fought race despite a fall while in 6th position. The Australian remounted and charged through the pack from outside the top 20 to finish 10th. Although disappointed by the fall, he was pleased to have fought back to 10th place. “It was a small crash, but you can’t afford to lose time against these guys; they are sprinting the whole way. I found myself too often falling into the pace of the guys in front of me. I learned a lot from the first moto; I need to be patient and more aware of my surroundings in the opening laps,” said Webster.
Moto 2 was a lot better for Webster, he got a great start on his MobileX Firepower Honda 450 and took the lead in the opening lap. Battling with some of the world’s best riders, Webster held his own for the first half of the race, showcasing his skills. The entire trip was hailed a success by Webster, Davalos, and his Australian boss, Yarrive Konsky. “This was so good, so much fun, and I have learned so much. I know I have a lot of work ahead of me, and I believe we have some great people around us. The bike, the teams here and in Australia, are world-class, and I am looking forward to returning home to continue my work. We have 3 rounds of Motocross remaining in Australia, the Des Nations, and then Supercross. I can’t thank everyone enough for this opportunity,” said Webster.
Firepower Honda’s Team principal Martin Davalos praised Kyle’s performance and the bike’s performance. “Kyle has some real talent, and our team did a tremendous job this weekend. Jake Cannon was also impressive in his pro debut,” said Davalos.
Jake Cannon was originally in America to race the amateur event the day before the Pro National, but torrential weather caused the day to be cut short. Despite this setback, Jake lined up on the second day for his unexpected pro debut against some of the fastest 250 riders in the world. At just 17 years old, the daunting experience made him understandably anxious, but you wouldn’t have known it. He qualified P14 out of more than 80 riders, in a field of almost 20 factory riders, and finished 21st overall after achieving 18th in moto 2.
Although the overall results don’t fully reflect his speed, his performance was commendable. In Moto 1, coming through from a first-turn crash, he posted times as quick as some well-known factory riders. Cannon admitted it was overwhelming but learned valuable lessons. “Wow, this was crazy. I lined up between Shimoda and Bennick, and it wasn’t something I was ready for. It was hard to get the flow I needed to be further up. I was tense and overthinking most things, but as the day progressed, I got more comfortable. I know I want to be overseas; these guys sprint for 30 minutes, and I have some work to do before I come back. But this has been amazing. Again, I am so grateful for the opportunity,” said Cannon
Honda Racing Australia’s director Yarrive Konsky was proud of Kyle and Jake’s efforts, believing these opportunities will prove invaluable. “Kyle can go home knowing he has the speed to race up front with the best riders in the world. He did an amazing job, and there are some realities we need to face about what needs improving. Overall, on tracks he has never ridden and a bike that wasn’t identical to home, he did a respectable job. And Jake Cannon—I take my hat off to him. Lining up against the people he looks up to, aspires to be, and beat, it was clearly overwhelming, but he didn’t shy away, and he has shown he has the potential to be something special,” said Konsky.
The team will now fly home to Australia to prepare for the sixth round of the Australian Motocross Championship