By Jason Weigandt and Steve Matthes
Jason Anderson | Rockstar Energy Husqvarna | 3rd in 450SX
Racer X: First of all, in the heat race you got a good start, and then you won a heat race. To some guys a heat race is probably just a heat race, but were you keen on this?
Jason Anderson: A heat race is a big deal for me because I’m not very good at them! I was in probably 80 percent of the semis last year. Sometimes you have heat races—and I don’t want to discredit any guys—that are lighter than others. Some heats you have Canard, Dungey, Seely… a whole bunch of people, just stacked. And then sometimes you don’t have those guys. And even when I didn’t have those guys I was still just jacked up or fall in a corner or get a bad start. So to be coming out of the heat races to the main is pretty cool for me. Tonight to get a good start and then a decently good start in the main was perfect, exactly what I needed.
You had a good jump in the main, probably a better start than you even ended up with. Did you get some contact in the first turn?
There was two other guys that got good jumps next to me, maybe a little bit better. But at the same time I came out of the gate and I was just there with them. I was able to come to the first turn and just stay there. Most of the time I’ve been super squirrelly out of the gate. I’ve just either hit someone out of the gate or just wheelied or done stupid stuff. So to come out of the gate straight was pretty cool for me.
Can you even put a finger on what the problem has been with the starts? Is it something different every time?
I just got better to where I don’t wheelie as many times as I used to. I really can’t pinpoint anything because I’ve had the whole world… my email’s been blowing up like, “You rode good but your starts.” You get an email from the head of Husqvarna: “Hey, nice job. You rode incredible, but your start.” I’m like, I know! I’m the one riding!
So what was the feeling when you actually weren’t buried?
It was good, and for me I’m pumped because when I get a good start it’s not like I usually mess up. This weekend I was able to get a good start and do what you’re supposed to do—kind of just hang in there. But the only thing that I was bummed about is I wish I would have started a little further ahead just so I could have sprinted away with those guys. Once I got into third I was six to eight seconds back and it was like, you’re not going to catch six to eight seconds on Dungey and Roczen. They’re gnarly dudes. For me being a sophomore year, just being on the podium and being in the top five a lot was a really good goal for me. I want to be there with those guys but at the same time I don’t want to bite off more than I can chew and just get in too far with expectations for myself and then just beat myself down. So I feel like I’m in a good spot, but no matter what my goal is to win and beat Dungey and beat Roczen. But there’s a lot of good things you have to do to be able to do that. That’s do good in practice, do good in your heat race, get a good start in the main and not screw up. I’m trying to be more Dungey-like. He switches up his lines. As much as people give him credit for being a work horse, he’s pretty good as far as being smart, too. There’s a reason why he’s never in semis and always up front.
When did you get Seely for third?
Like lap 12.
He didn’t go down, you passed him, right?
He just made a little bobble. It was really one of the easier passes that I’ve ever done. He rolled a whole section I think. – Jason Weigandt
Jake Weimer | Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John’s/RCH Suzuki | 10th in 450SX
I wouldn’t say I’m happy, but for how the day was going, I’ll take it. I’m getting to the point now where we’re testing some stuff, and figuring some things out, then I show up in practice, maybe I’m just expecting more out of myself, or whatever it is. Nothing to do with the team, but I’m wanting to do better and then I’m trying too hard, it’s not working, then I’m stressed out. Kind of a weird day and rough—trying to sort through it and build.
This track, the harder you pushed it the worse it was.
I think so. Because it was so slick. Just being stressed out all day and pissed at myself, by the time I get to the main event I’m tired. I think some of the best laps I did all day was at the end when I was tired, when I was just kind of riding. I’ll take it for sure, but I want a race where I just have a good day, during the day, you know? I think if I can do that I’ll have a much better time during the night show. – Matthes
Andrew Short | BTOSports.com-KTM-WPS | 13th in 450SX
Racer X: Today probably wasn’t your best day, but it’s gotta come sooner or later.
Andrew Short: Yeah, I hope so! Wasn’t a lot of fun today. Last week I was nervous and tight and this week I was again once I got to race day. My speed wasn’t good, just never really settled down, I guess. Looking forward to trying to improve, that’s a huge challenge.
How’s the body. How’s the strength and all that? Are you still working your way back?
Yeah a little bit but my biggest limiter now is the speed. I don’t have that intensity. These guys are seven races in, and I’m still new. But it’s the situation I’m in.
You’ve said this is your last year. Do you look around a little bit and take this all in, or are you just pissed?
No. If I had that mentality I should just retire right now. I would have a lot of regrets as well. I’m doing everything I can to try to maximize myself. Plus it’s not fun riding like this. How I rode today wasn’t very enjoyable, I think I’d have more fun if I was more competitive. Plus I’m getting banged around because I’m going backwards. It’ll come, hopefully. – Steve Matthes
Jeremy Albrecht | Team Manager AutoTrader/Monster Engery/JGR Yamaha | Peick (21st) and Nicoletti (15th)
Yeah it was looking better. I was texting Coy [Gibbs] and telling him we had some improvements today. Weston won his semi; Phil qualified out of his semi no problem. Lap times, I wanted them to be in the 51s and they were doing it. In the main event, Phil actually rode strong. Peick was running about seventh and jammed his wrist. It happened in Oakland on the last lap when he crashed, he’s been having trouble with his arm, so we’re going to have to get that worked on. I think Phil could have gotten twelfth in that main event if he could have made some passes early on. He got stuck there in a little rut. You know, the normal Phil, he’s always saying, “I should have done better.” But you always think that, that’s a good thing, he never settles, he’s never happy. I want to be in the top five with Weston and the top ten with Phil and I think we can get it, we just need to keep working. – Matthes
Alex Martin | Yamalube/Star Racing Yamaha | 6th in 250SX
Making steps. Every weekend we’re definitely getting better. For one reason or another we’re having some misfortune this year. In Oakland I could have had a podium, but I hit a Tuff Block. It was good to end on a better note going into this break. Not going to give up, going to keep going. – Matthes
Anderson's win at the season opener not only marked his first time standing atop the box in the 450SX class, but also Husqvarna's first supercross win in the premier class. For that, Anderson landed on the cover of the April '16 issue of Racer X Illustrated as well as our limited edition cover shirt, which comes free with a one-year subscription. They're print to order and won't be for sale anywhere else, so subscribe or renew today while the offer is still available!
