Consistency pays for Cooper Webb at Houston AMA Supercross

Cooper Webb secured his first AMA Supercross victory of 2026 in a dramatic Houston Triple Crown

Yamaha’s Cooper Webb took the overall win at the Houston AMA Supercross round, despite not winning any of the three race .

Webb started sixth in the first race, but made his way quietly up to fourth, passing Jorge Prado and Jason Anderson, and benefitting from a Hunter Lawrence crash, although he was passed by a charging Eli Tomac.

KTM’s Tomac had been the fastest rider in qualifying and seemed to carry that speed into the night show, but bad starts meant he had to cut through the pack in both of the first two races. That resulted in a third place in Race 1, but the second race saw him crash after climbing up to fourth. It seemed Tomac hit neutral in a transition towards the end of the track’s longest rhythm section and the result was him falling forwards off the next jump and cartwheeling with the bike as they hit the ground out of control.

Tomac was able to remount and finish the second race 13th, but even a win in the final race wasn’t enough then to keep him in podium contention, but a fourth place on the night meant he made ground in the points over Chase Sexton, who had a muted night, going 2-9-6 (including a second-race crash in the final corner) for fifth.

As for Webb, he took second in Race 2, finishing behind Lawrence after they both passed the holeshotting Jorge Prado. 

In Race 3, Webb hit Joey Savatgy on the take-off of the finish jump on the first lap and was fortunate not to be landed on when he came up hugely short on the landing. The Yamaha rider recovered, though, finishing third after a lengthy battle with Ken Roczen towards the end.

Roczen himself was one of the fastest riders on the night and took the victory in the first race, holding Sexton at bay for the majority of the 12 minutes. Race 2 saw a bad start for the Suzuki rider, but he was able to get back to fifth; before, in Race 3, a number of mistakes prevented him from getting close enough to make an impression on Webb in the closing stages in what was the battle for the overall victory.

Had Roczen made the pass, he’d have won the overall, but failing to pass Webb left him third, behind Webb and Lawrence, the Australian recovering after his Race 1 crash to take his first win in a 450SX Triple Crown race in the second moto before finishing second in Race 3 to secure the middle step on the overall podium. 

Lawrence’s P2 overall finish is his third in succession and leaves him now four points behind Tomac at the top of the championship. Roczen is a further eight points off the points lead in third, while Sexton is one point further away (14) than he was after his Anaheim 2 win a week ago. Webb’s victory moves him to within 17 points of the championship lead.

Houston Supercross

Exciting night in Houston, great racing in the 450 class.

Can Webb Rebound?

Challenging start to 2026 for reigning premier class champion.

Reigning 450SX champion Cooper Webb cut a dejected figure following Saturday’s Anaheim 2 main event, with his season-high P5 adding to what has been a largely challenging opening three rounds. He labelled the night as potentially a ‘nail in the coffin’ for his title defense, but with 14 rounds remaining, plenty of points are still on the table.

In a season where uncertainty surrounded both Eli Tomac – now at Red Bull KTM – and Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton amid major program overhauls, Webb stood out as the known commodity. The three-time number one was even granted the green light to line up aboard last year’s title-winning YZ450F, signaling all systems go for the Monster Energy Supercross champion.

The signs suggested this could be the best version of Webb to date, yet three rounds into the new season, the North Carolinian has recorded 7-8-5 finishes and finds himself sixth overall, already 24 points down on series leader Tomac.

While not ideal, the situation is far from disastrous, with Webb’s post-race commentary inside Angel Stadium likely the product of a microphone being placed in front of him while emotions were running at their highest. And, it’s understood he thought the deficit was in fact larger than 24 at the time.

The ever-outspoken Webb also took a shot in the direction of Jorge Prado (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) following a start-straight handlebar tangle that appeared to be a run-of-the-mill incident when riders are in such proximity. The point is, Webb was fired up and didn’t mince his words when the opportunity to speak presented itself.

“It’s been hell to be honest, to start the beginning of the year, but it’s part of the sport,” Webb admitted. “You do everything right, and sometimes you just get your teeth kicked in. I was happy with tonight, I was riding well – you know, it’s rare when I’m right there with the number three, and if anything, [he’s] kind of holding me back a little bit.

“With that being said, I can’t be too mad at myself. I was just trying to go ahead and get a pass lined up in the sand, and I made a mistake and went down. It’s just a bummer, like I said, I feel like tonight may or may not have put a nail in the coffin for a title defense, so it’s bittersweet, but in this sport, nothing is over until it is over.

“We’ll keep training – keep working hard, I felt like I made a big stride tonight, I think I was one of the better guys out there, I just..with [Jorge] Prado on the start, and Hunter [Lawrence], that was an unfortunate thing that we all have to deal with I guess when we are next to Prado, so, just, yeah.

“It’s racing, I’m bummed, pissed, not good results, but it’s not for a lack of effort, and the heart is there, it’s just getting on the same pony that kicks you off, and riding it out. We’ll be back next week, that’s for sure.”

There’s promise in not being too hard on himself, as the speed has been typically solid from the outset. At A1, if it weren’t for a serious multi-rider incident that brought out a red flag on the opening lap of the main event, we could very easily be talking about a Cooper Webb season-opening victory, having already established a couple of bike lengths’ advantage before the restart.

San Diego was a mixed outing, not helped by an aggressive move from Sexton that resulted in a crash, while a failed pass attempt on Tomac last weekend also proved costly, ending in a fall where a podium was on offer. Combine potential 1-7-3 results, and that could have equated to as many as 59 points – just 11 shy of Tomac as the series departs California.

While that is now purely hypothetical, it serves to underline Webb’s genuine pace, with minor mistakes proving costly in the opening rounds of the 2026 season. That said, his title challenge is far from over, even if he’s questioned it himself.

Three moments come to mind to support this. In 2002, Ricky Carmichael crashed out of the Supercross season-opener in Anaheim, surrendering 25 points to title rival David Vuillemin. Carmichael would then record 4-4 finishes across the next two rounds before returning to the top step by round four in Phoenix, ultimately claiming 11 wins from the 16-round series to secure the championship.

A similar scenario unfolded for James Stewart in 2009, with a DNF at A1 followed by seven consecutive premier class victories and a composed run to ultimately claim the championship. Likewise, Ryan Villopoto finished a lowly P16 at the 2013 season-opener, before a five-race win streak between rounds nine and 13 proved decisive in securing a successful 450SX title defense.

The point is that the deficit Webb faces can be overcome, as history has shown on multiple occasions. A hallmark of success remains straightforward – race victories. Win as many as possible, and steadily claw back points as the series progresses, as demonstrated by the examples outlined.

What comes into question is Webb’s ability to deliver, as he is better known for strategic management across a 17-round championship than outright pace. That approach is largely off the table now, with multiple race wins required to reduce the points gap to a rider like Tomac – a two-time 450SX champion in his own right.

Is Webb’s title defense over? Not at this point. But, he must be prepared to work outside of his comfort zone and target victories from here on out. That’s what it will take for the three-time 450SX champion to make it four this year, joining the likes of Carmichael, Villopoto, Jeremy McGrath, and Ryan Dungey in the elite group of riders to lift the crown on at least four occasions.

Austin Forkner (Hand Injury) is Out for Houston Supercross After Press Day Crash Friday

On Friday during the press day riding session ahead of round four of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, Austin Forkner crashed at the end of the long rhythm section.

This morning, Triumph Racing announced Forkner will miss today's race, due to a hand injury from said crash.

Triumph's post said the following:

"Unfortunately @AustinForkner sustained a hand injury during a crash on press day and will not take part in today’s proceedings. Heal up fast Austin!"

Forkner missed the San Diego SX main event after a crash earlier in the afternoon during qualifying resulted in a trip to the hospital. Luckily, he was not injured and competed last weekend at the Anaheim 2 SX. In Forkner's first 450SX starts this season (and the first two 450cc races of his pro career), he finished 15th (A1) and 17th (A2). 

RC on Winning!

Given that Ricky Carmichael always found a way to win, even against other legends of the sport in his era, we asked the GOAT if he thought he could do the same now against the new generation in 2026.

A humble RC told us that while he would like to think he would figure it out, the current generation have more skill than him!

“Well, I like to think that I would find a way to win. At the end of the day, I feel like the best guys do find a way and that’s what makes those guys special. Cooper Webb is a perfect example. It’s not always about being the fastest guy. You know, you don’t have to be the fastest guy to win championships at this level. You have to be the most well-rounded guy. You got to be consistent. You got to risk management. You got to have some decent speed, but you just don’t. Being the fastest isn’t everything. And I think Cooper is really good at realizing that. He’s an ace on the mental game as well and a lot of the championship guys have to be really mentally astute. So, I’d like to think that I could find a way, but these guys have a lot more skill, I will say, than I ever did. I think the skill level from these riders is just absolutely exceptional.”

Hymas to Surgery!

Honda HRC Progressive’s tough start to the 2026 AMA Supercross season has continued, with Chance Hymas set to undergo surgery this week after dislocating his left shoulder in a first-turn incident at Anaheim 2.Chance Hymas

The Idaho native was taken out in the opening corner of the January 24 round at Angel Stadium and is scheduled to have surgery on Friday, January 30, to repair the labrum in his left shoulder. The operation is expected to sideline Hymas for approximately eight weeks before he can return to riding.

Explaining what unfolded in the crash, Hymas said it all went wrong despite a reasonable launch from the gate. He noted that it “wasn’t the best start on my end, but I was still in a decent position coming into the first corner,” before another rider went down and collected him in the chaos. Hymas added that when he tried to break his fall, “I put my arm out to catch myself, I put it in a weird position and ended up dislocating my shoulder.”

The timing has been particularly cruel, with Hymas only recently returning to race fitness after a long road back from injury. He admitted the situation has been hard to swallow, saying it was “devastating on my end going through everything I went through to get back into racing shape,” but added that the support around him has helped soften the blow. “Fortunately, I have a good group of people around me that support me 100%,” he said. After discussions with the team, Hymas confirmed that surgery was the best path forward, explaining that “all things considered, the team and I decided it’s in my best interest to get my labrum repaired this Friday and turn my focus to being 100% healthy and ready for outdoors.”

The setback compounds a difficult start to the 2026 AMA Supercross Championship for Honda HRC Progressive, with multiple injured riders sidelined, while Hunter Lawrence’s strong early form has emerged as a rare bright spot for the team.

Hymas’ injury adds to what has been a testing opening chapter for Honda HRC Progressive in 2026. Jett Lawrence and Jo Shimoda remain sidelined after sustaining injuries during the pre-season, leaving Hunter Lawrence to carry the team’s Supercross charge. The Australian has delivered a series of strong rides across the opening three rounds and currently sits second in the 450 championship standings.

American Honda’s Manager of Racing and Advertising, Brandon Wilson, acknowledged just how demanding the season has already been for the squad. He said the year has “truly put us to the test,” admitting that everyone at Honda is disappointed for the injured riders. Wilson highlighted Hymas’ setback as particularly difficult, noting “knowing how hard he has worked and the impressive speed he was showing at the start of the season.” Despite the challenges, he pointed to Lawrence’s form as a positive, adding that “seeing Hunter racing so well has certainly been a bright spot,” and expressed confidence that the situation will eventually turn around. “We’re confident that before long, all four riders will be healthy and battling at the front,” Wilson said.

For now, Hymas’ focus shifts to surgery and recovery, with the goal of returning at full strength as the outdoor season approaches.

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Tim Gajser Debuts Yamaha

Intrview from MXLarge.com

Monster Energy Yamaha rider, Tim Gajser makes his Yamaha debut this weekend in Sardinia, at the Lazzaretto track. Taking on the likes of Lucas Coenen, Andrea Adamo, Jeremy Seewer, and Calvin Vlaanderen, its going to be a true test on his debut ride on the blue machine. He speaks to the guys from the Italian International about his new ride and the racing this weekend.

The live streaming will feature two separate coverages, with Marco Gualdani providing Italian commentary and MXGP voice Paul Malin, providing English commentary on all the races broadcast live on federmoto.tv and FIM-MOTO.tv.

Q: A new adventure with the 450 Yamaha. How did you find these first tests in 2026?

Gajser: The first test with Yamaha went well, actually. We had to wait quite a while to do it because we only managed to do it at the beginning of the new year, in January 2026. But overall, I was happy and immediately I felt comfortable with the bike, so yes, everything went well.

Q: The Italian Internationals are an important test for 2026. What will you be working on most?

Gajser: Yes, these races are a bit like a test, you know, because we’re coming out of winter, a sort of break from racing, you know, we haven’t raced for a couple of months. But also for me this year, you know, changing teams, changing bikes, I think it will be very important to do some races, and this kind of race is, you know, really useful to see where you stand, what aspects you still need to work on, what’s going well, what needs to be changed before the start of the World Championship. So these are always great races, let’s say, to get back into the rhythm of racing and everything else.

Q: You have been a world leader for years, but now you have decided to leave the team with which you won. The only certainty is Massimo Castelli. How is your relationship?

Gajser: Yes, Massimo and I have a great relationship. He is a great man. He has a lot of experience, and it’s great to have him by my side, especially now that I am facing this big change and such an important step in my career, completely changing everything. So it’s great to have him with me; he really knows what I want from the bike and all that stuff. So yes, it’s always been great working with him, but even now, you know, it’s incredible to have him here with me at Yamaha.

Q: We’re at the start of the season. How are you preparing? What are your strengths, and what do you need to improve?

Gajser: Yes, the season starts this weekend, let’s say. And we’re preparing really hard; I’m working hard, you know, physically and mentally, but also on the bike, trying to feel more and more comfortable every time I get on it. So yes, there are always areas for improvement, even if you’re really good. I always say that you’re never so good that you can’t improve. I always try to understand where I can do better, I analyze, I think about where I can improve myself, but also the bike. I’m always looking for improvement.

Q: You are spectacular and very aggressive in your riding. What matters most today to win a world championship? What characteristics must a winner have today?

Gajser: I mean, the most important thing… there are several excellent riders in MXGP, especially this year. Some young riders will be coming up from MX2 who are hungry, fit, and fast. So, what matters is believing in yourself, working hard every day, being consistent in races, and also staying healthy. I think that’s fundamental. Because if you’re not healthy, if you get injured, even if it’s just minor aches and pains that prevent you from training at 100%, it can cost you dearly. So, in the end, if you put all these pieces together and the puzzle is complete, you can win the title. I think it’s all of these things together.

Q: A greeting to your fans and a farewell to the races, which will soon see you starring in the Motocross Internationals.

Gajser: Yes, I want to say hello to all the fans and thank them for all their support, during all these years I’ve been in the World Championship. It’s been quite a few years, so yes, I want to thank them for all their support and I hope to see you at the races.

Herlings on Honda vs. KTM

  By Geoff Meyer

When rumors started swirling around the MXGP paddock that Jeffrey Herlings was going to be racing a Honda HRC factory machine in 2026, I think many of us were more than a little excited. HRC has a lot of money invested into the team, not just from Honda, but also team owner Giacomo Gariboldi.

No rider in the last 15 years has given MXGP more exposure than the five-time world motocross champion from The Netherlands. He has had periods in his career where he was, without question, the fastest man on the planet. He is probably the greatest sand rider in the sport’s history and holds the record for most Grand Prix victories (112).

Injury has stopped him from possibly becoming the greatest GP rider of all time, and while his five titles are not a reflection of his true worth, those five championships still place him amongst the likes of Eric Geboers, Joel Smets, Roger De Coster, Georges Jobe and Tim Gajser.

A world championship in 2026 would see him join Joel Robert with six titles, behind only Antonio Cairoli and Stefan Everts.

We gave “The Bullet” a call this morning, as he rested up from a week of long days and major testing. With the HRC technicians flying in from Japan, and the complete Gariboldi team arriving in Spain to make sure Herlings got the most out of the week. Sure enough, 12 hour days were completed, and progress was made. Then Jeffrey allowed MXLarge to do this exclusive interview.

MXLarge: Jeffrey, everyone in the sport is excited for this move to Honda and it’s created a lot of interest for the 2026 season, but how are you feeling about it?
Herlings: It is special. Basically my first contract with KTM was January 1st, 2009, so it was 17 years with KTM. To leave them was quite weird, because I spent almost my entire career with them and maybe for the last two, three, four years, I am changing brands. At the same time, Honda is a special team. Look back in the days of Thorpe, Geboers and in America, Jeff Stanton, Ricky Carmichael, Jeremy McGrath, a lot of top guys. HRC has some special thing, you know, and I am pleased. We have been testing the last three days, and I have never seen anything like what I have seen in these days. They had like 25 people just there for me. Around 15 Japanese flew in. We had so many things to try and how professional they are, it’s just unbelievable. My career has been long, and I have seen a lot, but nothing like this. We started testing at 8am and we finished when it got dark, so 12-hour days. It’s just next level. I have been racing for KTM, also a good team and super professional, but the way HRC work, with the Japanese, they work very differently compared to the Austrians.

The first video, at the announcement of you signing with Honda, you mentioned you got on the bike, and it felt so different to the KTM. What were the positives and negatives about the bike?
The thing that surprised me the most was the handling. Everyone asks me if I ever tried another bike in my career, just to try a different bike, but I never did, not once. I didn’t test the Honda before I signed. When I signed the contract with Honda, I was injured with my collarbone, so I wasn’t riding for five weeks anyway. The turning of the Honda, it’s unreal. I jumped on the bike, and the track was hardpack and there were little off-chambers and little downhills, and the turning was just amazing. It isn’t like everything is just better, the KTM is also a good bike. The last three months on the KTM, I was riding a production KTM and I just had a kit suspension and some other stuff, but the engine was stock and even the stock engine of the KTM is really good. I think stock bikes, the KTM might have more power, but the handling of the Honda is better for me. Both stock bikes are good, but then I jumped on the HRC, full factory bike, which is very special. I haven’t ridden a factory bike for over three months, because the last factory KTM was that international race at Valkenswaard and since then I have only ridden the stock KTM and when I jumped on the HRC bike, I was surprised by the power. It’s a very good bike.

The production Honda, in the sand, it did look a bit slower than how you normally looked on the KTM. They say that the KTM has a lot of power. How is the Honda in the sand?
Definitely on the stock Honda, I am going to be very honest, the stock KTM had a bit more power and I could feel that in the sand. We had a lot of rain the day before we rode the Honda in the sand and we agreed to ride the stock Honda first, for three or four days, which is what we did. On the hard pack tracks, even though the Honda had a little less power, but the handling is just so good. When I jumped on the HRC bike, the power is similar to the KTM and to be honest, on a 450, it isn’t who had the most power, but how you can use the power better. I obviously saw how KTM worked and that was top level, and the Austrians are quiet aggressive in what they do, it’s like “We tried this today, it’s better, let’s go race with it.” Working with the Japanese, they really want to try it over a period of time, test it some more, before they put it on a race bike. The power of the KTM and Honda is similar, but the delivery of the power is different, let’s say.

  

"The power of the KTM and Honda is similar, but the delivery of the power is different, let’s say." -Jeffrey Herlings@shotbybavo

Is that something you need more time to get used to?
Actually, I got used to the factory bike really quickly. We did the three days of testing, and we really changed it the way I like it. We made three very long days, and there were so many people helping, that we could get the bike like I wanted it in those three days. The last day, yesterday, we rode the sand and when I went home, I was super happy. I was so grateful to everyone that was there and I thanked them all, because we did three days, 12 hours a day and they did a hell of a job. The package I have now is good, so now I start training on the factory bike and before you know it, we start racing again.

Is it amazing that after racing a KTM all you career and in three days, you get the Honda to your liking?
Yep, everyone says the same. The guys from HRC also said they were surprised they made me so happy, so quickly. I told them, I’m happy now, but let’s go racing and we need to see how it is in racing conditions. With KTM, I rode that bike for 17 years and I was a big part of the development. The bike I raced in 2022, I might have already ridden in 2020 in development. The Honda, it’s totally new to me, also the aluminum frame. The motivation of this team, I mean, Tim was in the team a long time and it’s a big change for the team and some fresh wind with me coming in. Everybody is so motivated. Giacomo (Gariboldi) came for 10 days, and I have never seen him even being with Tim for that sort of time. He was at every single practice, from the moment we showed up at the track, until late evening when we got home. Marcus (team manager) was here, everyone from the team was here. Once we got the bike how I liked it, we did a moto at like six in the evening and everyone stayed for that. There were 25 guys from Honda around the track, applauding me while I did the moto, it was unreal how motivated and exciting everyone was. Every single lap I did the moto, everyone was applauding and calling out to me, it was really special to feel that excitement.

"There were 25 guys from Honda around the track, applauding me while I did the moto, it was unreal how motivated and exciting everyone was." Jeffrey Herlings@shotbybavo

Obviously you are now wearing Fox gear, and you rode your whole career on Alpinestars. I can imagine it was hard to leave them and now you have to also get used to new boots, helmets, clothing.
Yes, we did (have to do a lot). Same as with the bike, so I couldn’t try anything from Fox until January 1. We more or less started at 7 a.m., to get everyone done for the press release on the 1st. KTM and I parted ways in good terms, and I wanted to respect the contract. The helmet, I have been with Airoh since 2009 and my relationship with Alpinestars was also a really good one, to stop with both those companies was a big thing. Fox is a nice brand, and it was a big change. Pants, jersey and gloves is easy to transition to, but the boots and helmet was kind of a thing, to get that all set-ups. Kenny (Day), the Fox Global sports Marketing Manager flew in; he was here from the 1st until the 6th of January. He brought like five or six bags, just in material, to get me comfortable. All kinds of sizes, all kinds of material to get me comfortable.

I noticed the signs for no video and no photography during your testing and training. Why was that?
Obviously, the 2027 bike is like a prototype, so it’s not for sale. Ruben Ferandez used it from Loket onwards. The parts they have, they’re very special and I cannot say much about the parts, but I can give you one example. The footpegs are melded from one piece and are worth like 5000 Euro. The total HRC bike is so special, and the pieces are so limited. We rented the tracks, but they didn’t want anyone taking close up pictures or video when we would change parts. I did put some videos up, on my social media, but you couldn’t see much from those videos. They just don’t want photos when the fuel tank is off and the engine is open. That was also the same with KTM, when I rode for them.

You have often had trouble with starts and the Honda is known as a holeshot king, with the Lawrence brothers and Tim was also a good starter. Did you feel you got some good work done in that area?
I mean, it is difficult to tell, when you do starts alone, but my feeling is, the starts I did with the Honda were unreal. I don’t want to say it’s all great, because then I could show up at the race and I am not taking holehots. Everyone will be like, “Oh, Herlings said in January it was all good!” But my first feeling, yes, it’s unbelievable. At the same time, Lucas Coenen, Jorge Prado, Antonio Cairoli, they all won the Fox holeshot awards on a KTM. Maybe I couldn’t get out of the starts, because the bike wasn’t set up right for me. I don’t know, but my feeling on the Honda, I will potentially get better starts, but the real test is when 39 other guys are also on the start. Let’s wait and see.

What is the process now leading into Argentina, will you now go training with other riders, what races will you do leading into the opening round in Argentina?
I had been riding in Spain with the KTM and just went home for Christmas, then I started riding the Honda on January 1 and we plan to just keep training here in Spain, and we have another test planned with HRC at the end of the month. We should race Mantova on February 8. That wasn’t my plan, but the team requested I do Mantova, and then a week later it’s Hawkstone Park and then I will do Lierop the weekend before Argentina. That is pretty much it for now. I know some riders who are riding in this area in Spain and maybe I will message them and try and ride together. Just to see where my speed is and the feeling. Most guys are training and testing in Sardinia and as you know, the weather in Holland is terrible, with a lot of snow. The first race test for me will be Mantova. 

Roger De Coster on KTM's Worries Signing Jorge Prado

Roger De Coster, in conversation with Donn Maeda, has admitted it wasn’t a definite yes from Austria, especially Pit Beirer, for Jorge Prado to go back to KTM.

Roger said: “It was basically Ian and myself that decided we wanted to go for it. And then, of course, we needed approval from Austria and there were a little bit, there were some questions there, especially about Prado and Eli being at the end of his career and all that, but it turned around pretty quick and we did have some support from some people in Austria, but Pitt was not so happy about it and Pit is more, you know, if you leave him, he takes it more personal, you know, and it’s hard for him to, especially with Prado, he won four championships, if I remember right, with KTM and then left us and then wanted to come back and then we were not so sure about Supercross, you know, he struggled a lot last year.

“But he put in a lot of work this winter and I think our crew understands what he was looking for and, you know, first race went well and I’m not saying that he’s going to be like that the whole season, but because the season is long and Supercross is tough, you know, and so many injuries also and all that, but I don’t think it was a real fluke that he got on the podium, he was a good starter and he is very good technically on the bike and I think he likes his bike and I expect more good results.”

In just three Supercross races Prado has shown that his return was worth the risk by all involved.