It will be the most critical week of Jason Anderson’s life. He’s on the verge of locking down the most important championship and the loftiest goal in his sport. He is about to join the immortals, becoming just the 21st person to win the premier-class championship in Monster Energy AMA Supercross. The first new champion in seven years. The first ever in what’s now called the 450SX class on a Husqvarna. Holding the series lead since the second week of January brings pressure, scrutiny, and drama.

Anderson, feeling all of this weight on his shoulders, spends the week playing Mario Kart with his buddies.

Maybe his friends will bring up winning the title, maybe they won’t. Doesn’t really matter. Anderson is just going to smile and laugh.

“Honestly, I don’t really have a hard time talking about much,” Anderson says. “They can talk about the championship. They can talk about me blowing it or whatever. We really don’t do that. Honestly, we just try to hang out and have some fun. Lately we’ve been on a Mario Kart kick, and we’ve just been playing it on the Wii. Just normal stuff that’s keeping me good at the same time.”