Webb Retains U.S. Indoor Title

Cody Webb (Sherco) retained his AMA/NATC U.S. Indoor Trials Championship title Saturday evening in an extremely close battle with Will Ibsen (GasGas) and Sherco team mate Patrick Smage. After his dominating championship in the outdoor last season, many picked Smage as the favorite to take the indoor championship as well, but a mistake while executing a risky maneuver on the barrels section cost him a 5 and all but eliminated him from the close competition. Ibsen finished the main with a one point lead over Webb, leading into the two race sections. Because the loser of each race receives an extra one point penalty, the entire championship came down to the final race sections and Webb would need to win both in order to prevail. The first race was almost a dead heat, with Webb edging to a victory by less than a bike length. In the all-or-nothing final race, Webb got his booming 4 stroke Sherco to hook up for a hole shot on the slippery concrete floor. Cody held on for a close win as both he and Ibsen rode at their limit on the more technical obstacle course used in the final race section. The Indoor Championship was held at the Camp Jordan Arena near Chattanooga, TN and capped off a week of motorcycle trials summer camp and Youth trials competition at the nearby Trials Training Center in Sequatchie.