MAX ANSTIE INTERVIEW: “I FEEL LIKE THIS IS WHERE I’M SUPPOSED TO BE”

Max Anstie may not have been everyone’s pick to win the 250 East Coast Supercross, but it shouldn’t be shocking that he did. The 31-year-old just came in a little quieter than say Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s R.J. Hampshire, and defending champion Tom Vialle on his Red Bull KTM. I say, “It shouldn’t be shocking” as Anstie did hold the red plate at times last year, and he is on the winning Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team. On Saturday the fifteenth of February in Detroit, Max maintained his momentum but lost an eight-second lead and the win after a red flag to Levi Kitchen. For this interview, we caught up with Max while doing Friday’s Detroit press day which was the fourteenth of February.

BY JIM KIMBALL

MAX, ITS REALLY NO SURPRISE THAT YOU WON THE SEASON OPENER AT TAMPA, AND NOW CARRY THE RED PLATE; WE YOU SURPRISED? No, I expected to be in contention to win. It goes without saying that with the team that I am on, and the guys that I work with, that’s in signed with the best of the best. This team has won multiple championships, so it’s my job, to execute and do the best that I can every time I’m racing. If I can’t get a win, I need to be solid and consistent. I’m not saying every night will be as perfect as Saturday at Tampa, but that’s my hope.

Though this interview was prior to Detroit, Max Anstie had an eight-second lead that he lost due to a red flag with seven seconds left in the race. Levi Kitchen was able to capitalize and make the pass in the last two laps. However Max Anstie remains the points leader heading into Daytona.

ITS INTERESTING IN THAT YOUR NAME WAS MENTIONED AS A TITLE CONTENDER, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE FAVORITES LIKE RJ HAMPSHIRE, LEVI KITCHEN, AND DEFENDING CHAMP TOM VIALLE, YET THEY ALL HAD OFF NIGHTS IN TAMPA. SO, POINTS WISE, THAT HAD TO HELP YOU? As I said, I don’t expect every night to go my way like it did. I’m sure that they are going to be back swinging here in Detroit, and every time we go race. I can’t count anybody out and don’t expect anything else. I’m here to battle and put my best foot forward. I’m sure we are going to have a race for this championship-and that’s what I expect.

YOU HAVE RACED THE MXGP SERIES, WHERE YOU’VE COMPETED IN SUCH A WIDE VARIETY OF WEATHER CONDITIONS, AND TRACK CONDITIONS; SO WHY ARE YOU SO GOOD IN SYPERCROSS? That’s a good question; it’s crazy, right? When I was a kid, I loved Supercross, and I was always very precise and sound in my riding. Whenever I was training in Europe in the GP days, I would always find a Supercross track and go play on it after my training motos. Of course, the teams didn’t like it, but I loved it! I felt Supercross was calling me, and that was where I was supposed to be. When I was racing GPs, my goal was to win a Championship. I won races, and won the MXON, but was always a bit short in winning a Championship. I was watching Supercross on television and always wondered “How do I get to do that?’. Now, I am living it, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity that I have. I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be.

Starts are key and it is something that Max Anstie has worked hard on as he has not started outside the top five this season.

LET’S FINISH UP WITH THIS; WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR YOU TO WIN THIS CHAMPIONSHIP? You know how it is; there are a lot of moving pieces, and you must have them all in place. It just comes down to executing each weekend, hitting my marks, and doing my thing. At the end of the day, there is a whole load of things that are not in my control, so we take it as it is.

Max Anstie is nine points ahead of Levi Kitchen heading into Daytona this weekend.