What Really Happened in East Rutherford?

Chase Sexton smoked Cooper Webb in East Rutherford. And no, it wasn’t just the whoops. Webb’s lack of whoop speed may have been exposed in the opening laps, but Sexton tore him apart everywhere. This wasn’t a win. This was a message. A mic drop. A performance that screamed, “I’m not done yet.”

We all know Webb and whoops have history. He’s made gains this season, sure, but New Jersey brought back the bad memories. Two back-to-back whoop sections meant game over. Even Webb admitted it:

And early I stayed with him everywhere else, but the whoops—he would blow my doors off.

– Cooper Webb on his East Rutherford Performance

Credit to the honesty. But if we’re being real, the whoops were just one section. It started with the mindset. It is rare to see a dent in Webb’s mental armor. Webb was trying to just stay with Sexton—not beat him.

Sexton was trying to leave Webb in the dust. And he did.

This race unfolded in three distinct chapters:

1. Laps 1–4: Webb hanging on.
2. Laps 5–18: Sexton turns up the heat.
3. Lap 19–Finish: Sexton backs off.

Sexton vs. Webb: East Rutherford SX Sector Comparison by Key Moments

By lap 5, Sexton’s set his cruise control at Webb’s sprint pace. Sexton gapped Webb everywhere. And it wasn’t just the whoops, they weren’t even the worst part.

Through the opening 18 laps, Sexton put on a clinic:

• Webb beat him once—Lap 2, by just 0.004 seconds
• Fastest rider on track for 13 straight laps
• Logged the top time in 15 of the first 18 laps

By Lap 19, Sexton backed it down with a near 20-second cushion. Webb was stranded in no man’s land, too far from Sexton to apply pressure, too far ahead of Plessinger to worry. It looked like Webb may have reeled back the gap a bit at the end. But make no mistake, Sexton decided that number. Not Webb.

Sexton vs. Webb: East Rutherford SX, Lap by Lap

The Bigger Picture

Now, here’s the twist: 2nd place still pays 22 points. Doesn’t matter how far behind you are.

Webb’s title hopes didn’t take a fatal hit. He stayed in the fight by doing what champions do, salvaging the best result possible on a bad night. But if Sexton keeps bringing this level of smoke, things might get a whole lot more uncomfortable for the red plate holder.

Sexton is still in must-win territory. But if East Rutherford was any indication, he’s more than capable of running the table.

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Jeremy McGrath Nac Nac

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East Coast Staying Hot

Things in the East didn’t look much better. Is Seth Hammaker the guy to finally break the Pro Circuit curse? Too early to crown him, but he’s sure looking the part. But this one is far from over.

Seven points separate the top three, but unless Tom Vialle starts winning, this is shaping up to be a two-man title fight: Hammaker vs. Hampshire.

And much like Sexton in the 450s, Hammaker had Hampshire covered. Pretty much everywhere. too. No, it wasn’t a 15-second beatdown. But 5 seconds in a 15-minute race? Still a statement win by Hammaker.

Hammaker vs. Hampshire: East Rutherford SX Sector Comparison

Hampshire only clocked faster times in two sectors, neither of which were impactful enough to challenge for the win. Hammaker kept it clean, consistent, and just flat-out faster.

Plenty of Wildcards

East Rutherford was the first time we had a two time winner in the East this year. Only one East-only division race remains, and then it’s the third E/W Showdown.

Both will throw plenty of wildcards into the mix. We almost saw it in East Rutherford too.

Nate Thrasher had race-winning speed before tipping over. He was clearly the fastest in the whoops and matched Hammaker nearly everywhere else.

With nothing to lose, Thrasher is the perfect storm headed into the final rounds. Don’t be shocked if he throws a wrench into the title chase.

And let’s not forget the entire West coast. This championship will come down to Salt Lake City, most likely in a winner take all situation