Three Grands Prix wins from the last four rounds have helped elevated Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki’s Max Anstie to third place in the MX2 class and within 38 points of the world championship battle shared by HRC’s Tim Gajser and Red Bull KTM’s Pauls Jonass.
Anstie’s brilliance in the likes of Latvia, Belgium, Italy and even Germany and the Czech Republic has been mixed with moments of inconsistency. Crashes that forced DNFs and DNSs in the first two rounds and the only blot on his copybook from the last eight motos: a fall while leading on the hard-pack of Loket.
The 22-year-old has shown title-winning form but admitted that he cannot hold direct designs on the title due to the points deficit he still needs to shrink to Jonass.
“I’m not really in a position for any strategy,” he said. “I just have to get out and race and get in a good position. To be honest I am happy with the way the season has gone so far and it has been my best year to-date and I feel like I am growing as a person and a rider. It has been really nice just to focus on my laps and my sessions and the team have worked really hard to allow that to happen.”
“I’m just going out to race and if I put myself in a solid position then great,” he added. “To have a decent chance I need to win every race and we’re at the world championship so it is hard to do that.”
Anstie will form the MX2 entry for Team Great Britain at the Motocross of Nations in what will be his second appearance for his country. #99, who is accompanied by Shaun Simpson in Union Jack colours, reacted to news that Dean Wilson will be the third entrant for the Brits after returning from knee ligament damage only recent in the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship. “I think it is going to be really good,” he said. “Shaun has been riding very well and with Dean I think we have a good team. I’m excited. I saw a video of the French team riding at Ernee and it [the track] looks pretty decent.”
