MXA INTERVIEW: JASON ANDERSON TALKS ABOUT HIS SEASON THUS FAR

While 2018 Supercross Championship favorites Eli Tomac and Marvin Musquin have struggled with crashes and injuries, Rockstar Husqvarna’s Jason Anderson has bolted to an early lead, and while certainly no one has doubted Anderson’s raw speed, he has minimized mistakes, and maximized consistency. We had a chance to catch up with JA21 to get his thoughts on the series to date.

BY JIM KIMBALL

JASON, OBVIOUSLY THE SERIES HAS BEEN GOING WELL FOR YOU. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? Yes, I feel good. I have felt pretty decent all year long, good enough to be in the battles, and winning races. But you know now, I just have to keep it going.   

DOES THE SERIES SEEM DIFFERENT WITHOUT RYAN DUNGEY HERE? Yes, it does seem different. Obviously Ryan is a legend, and he won everything. But at the same time, I would have liked to battle him in his prime for a championship. With him not racing, it did open a door for a lot of opportunities for people. So, as a rider, you can tell that it’s a lot different without him racing.

Obviously Ryan is a legend, and he won everything. But at the same time, I would have liked to battle him in his prime for a championship. 

BUT YOU HAVE BEATEN HIM BEFORE. Yes, I have a couple of times, just not consistently. I am still trying to figure it all out. I am just going to keep doing what I am doing; it seems to be working pretty well.

ANY SURPRISES IN THE SERIES FOR YOU SO FAR, AS WITH MUSQUIN AND TOMAC BEING WAY BACK IN POINTS, AND A FEW MORE SIDELINED WITH INJURY? As we all know, our sport is pretty dangerous, and it can bite you at any time. So I think putting yourself in good positions is important. I am sure that I am going to have some adversity coming my way at some point that I will have to overcome, and I think that is just circumstances. Actually the series has not been surprising, because you can see it happening all the time. I actually feel like it kind of sucks because in reality they should be a little bit closer to me in the points chase. But there are still a lot of races to go, and a lot of battling.

YOU HAVE DONE VERY WELL IN THE 450 CLASS SINCE MOVING UP.  NOW IN YOUR THIRD SEASON DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE WHERE YOU NEED TO BE? Well in my first year, I did not win one, but I podiumed my first race on the 450. Then I got ten podiums between Supercross and Outdoors that year. The following year I took my first win. With my 450 career I have progressed every year. It has definitely gotten better and better as the years have gone on, and that is really all I am looking for. It is just progression from year to year, trying to just be better, and trying to really learn every year. I feel like that is what I have been doing, and I feel like I have always had the speed to be winning more races. Now I am finally learning to hone it all in, and have a little better race craft.

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