Rockstar Energy IceOne Husqvarna’s Max Anstie matched Grand Prix of Lombardia winner Tony Cairoli in terms of elation last weekend as the 24 year old rode to his first podium finish in the premier class and with the FC450. Anstie is the third rookie this season to stand on the MXGP rostrum after Arnaud Tonus and Jeffrey Herlings, and his third position was obtained with two solid performances in the Ottobiano sand last Sunday.
“I have been dreaming of this for a long time,” he said afterwards. “It is different in MX2 and MXGP is tough, these guys are so fast. I have a lot of respect and looked up to them. I remember watching the 2006 Motocross of Nations at Winchester and Tony passing [Ryan] Villopoto and thinking ‘that was amazing’ I was only twelve then. It is amazing to be in the same race nevermind the podium.”
Anstie, who is twelfth in the championship but missed two rounds with an ankle injury, applied some important lessons to capture third place in the second moto and his first top race three classification. “I focused on my laps,” he says. “I learnt that mistake a couple of weeks ago in Russia: I was in a position to be second on the podium and I was thinking ‘don’t crash, don’t crash…’ and then I crashed with one lap to go. I learnt my mistake from there and focussed on every single lap and the turns until the end.”
The former MX2 Grand Prix victor was quick to credit the meticulous nature and organisation of Kimi Raikkonen’s Antti Pyrhonen-led team as one of the principal forces behind his quick adaptation to the 450 and in a class where almost twenty other riders have GP-winning experience. “I’ve got such a great team behind me and I really couldn’t do it without them, you have no idea how good and professional they are,” he explained. “I am kept on-program all the time and every day and that is why I feel strong: from taking my blood to videoing me, they are really on it and it is great to be working with a group like that. We’re here to do business and I hope I can keep improving and go into next season feeling strong as well.”
Now that MXGP is firmly into the second phase of the nineteen-race schedule thoughts for British riders at least are lingering onto the 2017 Motocross of Nations at Matterley Basin on October 1st. The 2006 edition and the same site saw an official crowd figure of 80,000 flock to Winchester. Anstie, who hails from the same small town and original capital of England, was asked about his form this year and whether it could ensure first pick on the Team GBR trio, particularly with Tommy Searle and Shaun Simpson suffering injury problems.
“It would be amazing [to be picked],” Anstie commented. “I have spoken to Mark Chamberlain [Team Manager] and he has done a good job. At Valkenswaard he brought all the British riders together. Obviously it is still way-off at the moment but I’d love to be there. I was born in Winchester so it would be amazing.”
“It is a real shame for Shaun [Simpson broke his left arm in qualification on Saturday on what was his first outing since recovering from a broken hand] because I have gotten to know him more over the last month and he had been working hard from his last injury and [only] to come back to get injured again. Hopefully he can make a speedy recovery because he is a strong contender for the team as well.”
Searle was in the paddock at Ottobiano and is three weeks away from being able to ride his Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki after breaking his left hand due to striking a fence post while practicing. Simpson underwent surgery in Belgium on Sunday and is looking at a competitive return at Assen for the Grand Prix of Netherlands on September 10th; three weeks before the Nations.
Photos by Ray Archer
