JASON ANDERSON INTERVIEW: HEADED INTO ANAHEIM 2 WITH CONFIDENCE

It was no secret last year that Jason Anderson would be leaving the Rockstar Husqvarna team after giving them their first ama supercross championship in 2018. While there weren’t any negative comments from Anderson or Rockstar Husqvarna, it clearly appeared this relationship had ended. The question was where the New Mexico native would go next. When Monster Energy Kawasaki announced mid 2021 that Eli Tomac would not return to the team for 2022, a huge door opened. Coming into 2022 many speculated that Anderson would be a consistent top five guy, as he had been the past few years. However shortly before the new year, those that had seen Jason at the test tracks were talking about how fast he was.

Jason Anderson opened everyone’s eyes with his speed at Anaheim 1, and further cementing that he was rejuvenated was his 450 Main Event win in Oakland. And in fact, Anderson looked to have a secure second place spot on the podium, if not a win in San Diego, until mechanical issues derailed his ride. Now trailing points leader Eli Tomac by five, Jason Anderson is still very much in the 2022 Supercross Championship chase! Although Jason doesn’t love interviews and attention from media sources other than his own, we were able to steal some of his time to get this interview here.

2022 ANAHEIM 2 SUPERCROSS | FULL COVERAGE

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By Jim Kimball

JASON, WHAT AN AWESOME RIDE AT OAKLAND.  YOU’RE ALREADY A RACE WINNER ONLY TWO ROUNDS IN WITH A NEW BIKE AND NEW TEAM. Thank you, it is cool. For me, it was unreal crossing the finish line, and it seemed like a dream, because I have been so long without a win. Being able to do that, and on a new team and get that spark back feels awesome.

Jason Anderson looking over to see the scoreboard to figure out which position he was in. Jason passed into second before his bike issues began. At the finish, Jason was 9th place. However, Justin Barcia was docked one position, which gave Anderson 8th place and an extra point. 

HAD IT BOTHERED YOU THAT YOU HAD NOT GOTTEN A WIN AFTER ALL THIS TIME? Oh yes! Are you kidding me, after 47 races without a win, for me that is just so long, and it is tough on you. It is crazy to say this but there are 15 guys on that line that truly believed in themselves that they would be in that position one day. It does not happen for a lot of people and for 47 races, it was not happening for me. But it came around, and it was worth the wait. As crazy as it sounds, I don’t want to go 47 races again without winning. But that feeling that I had in Oakland made it all okay with me a little bit.

YOU ALSO LOOKED REALLY GOOD AT A1; LIKE YOU COULD HAVE WON THAT RACE. Yes, I felt good all off-season. Not only have I felt good, but I really put my heart into my riding, so it was important for me to put that hard work in and not lose sight of that. I felt I could have a good finish, and at the same time, if stuff was going right, just keep the same goal of winning, and just keep trying to ride my butt off.

Jason Anderson is now 6-points behind Eli Tomac in the 450SX Championship standings. If he were to have finished second (the position he was in when the bike started to steam) and Eli Tomac would’ve finished 3rd, Anderson would be in the points lead by 5-points right now. 

IT CERTAINLY LOOKED LIKE YOU HAD A CLEAR PODIUM, IF NOT A WIN IN SAN DIEGO. Thank you, I was feeling great and moving towards the front until my bike started smoking and losing power. I had to nurse it along and was still able to score points. Of course, it’s a bummer, but things happen in Supercross.

THE BIKE YOU ARE ON NOW IS SO DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT THAT WHAT YOU WERE ON. BUT THEY WAY YOU ARE RIDING, YOU CERTAINLY WOULDN’T THINK SO. To be honest, I feel like I am pretty good at riding pretty much anything if I have enough time to get the bike ready for me, and my style. Obviously, the bike came set up from previous guys and obviously they set it up and I kind of worked with that. I feel like I am one of the guys who rides a little further back on the bike, and I think the Kawasaki is set up for me. To be honest, I feel like I am not the best as far as technique, but I feel like I am decent at bringing it around to my style without losing myself in the development, you know.

This photo really shows how bad the bike was steaming. 

WHERE ARE YOU AT NOW. I KNOW YOU WERE IN FLORIDA AT THE BAKER’S FACTORY, AND AT THE 83 COMPOUND, ARE YOU STILL IN FLORIDA AT ALL? Nope. I sold my house in Florida. Right now, I stay in California with the team and then I moved back home to New Mexico, and I have my piece of property there, and that is what I do.

Jason Anderson having a look back mid-whip across the finish line. On Saturday, he was the fastest qualifier in both practices, he was the Heat race winner and one of the fastest riders in the Main Event passing riders like Dylan Ferrandis, Marvin Musquin, Cooper Webb, Ken Roczen and Eli Tomac all before his bike started steaming in the Main Event. 

MOVING FORWARD, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT OUT OF YOURSELF NOW? I expect a lot out of myself but if I am going to give you my media realistic answer, I just want to keep trying hard and just keep doing my best. As I have gotten older, I have gotten way better at being able to put in the effort and being able to manage the highs and lows.  There is no way you are not going to have highs and lows with how our sport is right now. That is the tough part, but I think as you get older, you get better at doing that.

2022 ANAHEIM 2 SUPERCROSS | FULL COVERAGE