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450SMX Results
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450 Words: Enjoy All Moments
Jason Weigandt

Jason Weigandt

450 Words Enjoy All Moments

January 17, 2022 2:05pm
by: Jason Weigandt
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  • 450 Words
  • Jason Anderson & Christian Craig Are Back to Winning Ways

Yamaha off-road competition bikes are designed to turn enthusiasts into the best riders possible – to help them become one with their machine and win races – and to put them in the Victory Zone, atop the podium. From exciting youth models like the YZ65 and YZ85, to the legendary YZ125 or YZ250 two-strokes, and the championship-winning YZ250F and class-leading YZ450F with the industry-exclusive Power Tuner app, all Yamaha motocross bikes have one thing in common: winners choose them. Learn more at YamahaMotorsports.com

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Oakland, CA OaklandMonster Energy AMA Supercross Championship

All race wins are big, but Saturday night’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross victory for Jason Anderson in Oakland hit different. He had gone nearly four years without a victory, and worse yet, he had not won since his 2018 title season. Obviously, this Oakland win was huge.

“The last time I won I felt like I was on top of the world, being able to win that championship and stuff,” said Anderson. “Being able to come back, I’m 28 years old, I’m getting older but being able to know that I still got it and I’m able to still win it feels amazing. Forty-seven races is a long amount of races to go without a win, especially with all that work being put in. We did it. Now I want more.”

That’s not the whole story, though. Anderson has gone through his ups and downs since then, and eventually even left the team he raced for his entire career (“pass” was his answer in the press conference when asked why he’s not with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna anymore). Through the long wait to win again, he has learned that he loves the sport anyway, even on the bad days, even when the wins aren’t coming. Anderson isn’t known for revealing much about his character, but he wants everyone to know how much he loves his job.

“For me, racing is my number one thing. I’ve done it since I was little. For me, it’s something where I could possibly feel like I’d be lost if I didn’t have it,” Anderson explained. “Even through the tough times, I love it. Fail or succeed I just want to keep trying and keep racing. As much as I don’t let people into my life and things like that, I freaking love being in the paddock! As much as I dodge you media guys and I don’t want to do interviews and stuff like that, I still love racing dirt bikes and that’s how it is.”

Jason Anderson waited 1,415 days to win again.
Jason Anderson waited 1,415 days to win again. Align Media
Supercross

Oakland - 450SX Main Event

January 15, 2022
RingCentral Coliseum
Oakland, CA United States
Rider Time Interval Best Lap Hometown Bike
1 Jason Anderson Jason Anderson 21 Laps 0:59.714 Edgewood, NM United States Kawasaki KX450SR
2 Aaron Plessinger Aaron Plessinger +03.366 0:59.798 Hamilton, OH United States KTM 450 SX-F
3 Justin Barcia Justin Barcia +06.165 0:59.768 Monroe, NY United States GasGas MC 450F
4 Eli Tomac
Eli Tomac
+09.919 0:59.583 Cortez, CO United States Yamaha YZ450F
5 Malcolm Stewart
Malcolm Stewart
+13.951 1:00.621 Haines City, FL United States Husqvarna FC 450
Full Results

The other Oakland winner was Christian Craig, in the 250SX class. At 30 years old, Craig has taken some heat recently for winning in the 250SX class. He put out a tweet before Oakland explaining all the time he has missed with injuries, and even retirement earlier in his career.

“Man, I’m one of the most hated guys on social media lately!” he said. “I don’t know why, I’m one of the nicest guys out there. I’ve been hurt more than I’ve raced. It’s unfortunate and no one has had a career like me. And I hope no one does! I’ve been in the hospital a lot with big injuries. I had to step away from racing.”

There was a time when riders retired early in this sport, but the pendulum is swinging back the other way. Anderson and Craig aren’t the only riders in their late twenties and early thirties still pushing for wins. When you love the sport, you keep trying. Occasionally, that leads to winning.

“To be honest I always have felt like I had the speed and the talent to win, I just wasn’t putting it together,” Anderson says. “Last year I only had two podiums and even just a handful of top fives. Honestly if you look at it, it looked like I was on the decline! No matter what I just kept believing in my talent and I kept trying every day. Yeah, just don’t give up, I guess.”

For Craig, his brief retirement gives him an appreciation for the sport that goes beyond the feeling of winning races.

“I get to enjoy this now,” Craig says. “I’ll smile every time I’m on the line when I’m racing. I know these days are limited and you don’t get a lot of them. Enjoy it while you can. Even the bad days. You’re going to look back at it and you have to be grateful. Just being grateful, that’s it.”

Christian Craig is 2-for-2 in 2022.
Christian Craig is 2-for-2 in 2022. Align Media
Supercross

Oakland - 250SX West Main Event

January 15, 2022
RingCentral Coliseum
Oakland, CA United States
Rider Time Interval Best Lap Hometown Bike
1 Christian Craig Christian Craig 16 Laps 0:59.990 Temecula, CA United States Yamaha YZ250F
2 Hunter Lawrence Hunter Lawrence +05.698 1:00.647 Landsborough, Australia Australia Honda CRF250R
3 Seth Hammaker Seth Hammaker +09.954 1:00.882 Bainbridge, PA United States Kawasaki KX250
4 Michael Mosiman
Michael Mosiman
+14.809 1:00.553 Sebastopol, CA United States GasGas MC 250F
5 Nate Thrasher
Nate Thrasher
+23.244 1:00.618 Livingston, TN United States Yamaha YZ250F
Full Results
  • Fly Racing Racer X Podcast: Oakland Fly Racing Racer X Podcast: Oakland 10:45am
  • Exhaust Podcast: Ryan Dungey on Close 2022 Supercross Title Fight Exhaust Podcast: Ryan Dungey on Close 2022 Supercross Title Fight 3:10pm
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