“I know who I’m racing against here,” explained Max Anstie with British understatement. In the 250cc finale in San Diego, he was knocked off the bike by his Star Racing Yamaha teammate Haiden Deegan with a hard block pass. Anstie crashed and fell from 1st to 5th. Deegan won and took over the red plate from the championship leader.
“I actually expected something like that,” said Anstie after the race. «It was clear that something like this had to happen. He slipped in the bend and a collision occurred. I just hope he thinks twice about such an action next time. I started here with the red plate and for that reason alone it was clear that he would attack hard. So I was prepared for it. But maybe I didn’t take him seriously enough.”
Learned from the run-up
In the second 250 heat there was already an internal team duel between Anstie and Deegan. After Anstie took the holeshot, Deegan overtook the Brit on the 5th lap. «He took the jump combination as 3+3+1 and was therefore able to overtake me. I took over that and that’s why I thought he couldn’t crack me anymore at this point.”
Max Anstie: “I learn quickly”
“If you come from a completely different part of the world, it is particularly difficult to gain a foothold here in America,” explained the Brit. «I was in the World Championships for 9 years and didn’t race a single Supercross race during that time. Now I’m competing against teenagers and 20-year-olds, but I’m still able to learn and have won all my starts this year. That’s exactly what makes ‘young guns’ like Deegan so angry. But look at Rafael Nadal (39), Cristiano Ronaldo (40), Roger Federer or Lewis Hamilton, who at 41 still has the reflexes to compete in Formula 1.”
Promotion to the 450 class
“There are 15 pilots in the 450cc class who have won at least one championship in their career,” answered Anstie when asked whether he was planning to switch to the ‘big boys’. «Until I win the 250cc championship, there is no reason for me to move up to the 450cc class. I still have to learn. Of course I would like to do that one day, but I have to win the 250cc class first. I’m 32 now, but I feel like I’m 22. I don’t know what I’ll do in the future. Now and here it’s all about this one championship.”
Forecast for the World Cup
At the end, Anstie was asked about his forecast for the Motocross World Championship, in which he himself has been competing for 9 years. «This year will be exciting. Herlings on the Honda and Gajser on the Yamaha. I think Coenen will be very good again. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Romain Febvre is very strong again. He stays in the same team and on the same bike. His environment has proven itself. But I now clearly see that Supercross and Motocross are completely different worlds. Supercross now seems like a different sport to me.”
