JASON ANDERSON

A consistent threat for top-tier finishes, New Mexico’s Jason Anderson had been tirelessly training for this outdoor season. He seemed to have never stopped from his admirable run and Supercross, and was willing to do whatever it took to better the motorcycle...even training on the East Coast with the entirety of his team, in order to configure settings at a higher degree. The hard work had paid off as practice came to a conclusion in Southern California, but his quest to the podium wouldn’t begin on the path he’d visualized...falling in the opening corner as the pack had become rather jammed, and forced to reside thirty-seventh as he took the green flag. He was into a points paying position by the fifth circuit (i.e. eighteenth) and looked to keep moving forward as the track became clearer. Sweeping through the berm before the finish line, the roar of his Kawasaki engine would leave fans in disbelief as he flat-landed from the accompanying tabletops with authority — doing everything possible to lessen his lap-time and diminish the gap between he and opponents of the top-ten. Once making passes on other racers like Freddie Noren and Marshal Weltin (amongst many others) he would then find his way nearing the top-ten while just behind Dean Wilson, Phil Nicoletti, and Malcolm Stewart. Though able to get around his friendly rival (i.e. the number fifteen of Wilson) there wasn’t enough time left on the clock in order for him to overtake fellow veterans Nicoletti and Stewart, leaving him in tenth as the dust settled on the first moto. For the second round of racing, Jason’s opening standing (of fifth) was certainly a place to work from...and he quickly moved ahead of ClubMX Yamaha’s Phil Nicoletti to acquire fourth. The top-three (consisting of Jett and Hunter Lawrence, along with Chase Sexton) were pretty much in a category of their own — and Anderson had already began to distance his machine from Justin Barcia, Dylan Ferrandis, and Malcolm Stewart who trailed. Therefore it was up to the Kawasaki athlete to conduct a pace that would sustain his current position...despite not having many “markers” or athletes to pursue within a foreseeable distance. His veteran aptitude took over that point and his riding style reflected discipline that couldn’t be forged. His efforts eventually led to fourth place being garnered at the line, which resulted in seventh place overall being established, before heading into round two of the championship.