Jason Anderson might have just ridden the best race of his career on Saturday night at Oakland. Even a big crash during practice and an average start in the main didn’t deter the points leader from a terrific race win.
Anderson put his head down in the main, made an aggressive move on his training partner, Marvin Musquin, that left the Frenchman on the ground, before reeling in and passing Ken Roczen on the last lap for an incredible victory that stretched his lead over his nearest rival Roczen to 15 points.
Our man stateside, Doug Turney, caught up with Jason after the race.
Congratulations on the win tonight, was this a type of track you enjoyed?
It’s nicer to have tracks you feel safer on but at the end of the day it was very technical and it separated people so it was a tough track to race, I liked it but at the same time I would rather have a track that I felt safer on.
As far as racing during the day/evening, is the sun an issue?
The glare is gnarly. It was tough to adjust, I don’t really like waking up early, it kind of threw your schedule off and then my crash threw me off. By the main when the lights were on it felt like a normal time, so that wasn’t bad. But in the heat and during the day and stuff – it’s weird.
!
We are going into the middle third of the season now, what do you think is clicking for you this year?
I just think I have grown up, I am more mature and making better decisions. I just have to keep it going.
You stayed out West this year, does that make you more comfortable?
I don’t really know, I just feel better! I worked hard, did two bootcamps and got two vacations (Geneva and Oz sx races) – it was sweet!
Interview and pics: Doug Turney