JASON ANDERSON | GRIT-215 | 450SX

JASON ANDERSON | GRIT-215 | SX 450

The 2022 multi-time winner would aspire to return to his victorious ways while in Glendale, with his native state of New Mexico providing fans from neighboring lands to cheer his name inside State Farm Stadium. And by all means, would he bring a sense of explosiveness in practice to the racetrack that could hardly be rivaled; mastering rhythm lanes with ease with his patented free-flowing style which was set to then be showcased in the first main event of the evening. The number twenty-one Kawasaki would begin the race in sixth, while battling with the likes of Colt Nichols and Adam Cianciarulo. He made his way around the Honda competitor prior to being overtaken by Chase Sexton, settling his standing in sixth from that of lap four (and onward). Though he was doing his best to retaliate against the number twenty-three, it would actually be Adam Cianciarulo (who trailed) who gave him the biggest rivalry throughout the thirteen-lap contest. And though a bit frustrated with his result, the demeanor of Anderson was unbothered as he eventually crossed the line with sixth-place in hand...more ready than ever, to begin the following bout. The thirteen lap-quest that awaited him, would be a platform where he garnered fourth position to begin; defending his placement from Cooper Webb who was crafty with his line choices, and eventually infiltrated a direct radius of the New Mexico native that couldn't be ignored. It was just before the step-on/step-off's where Webb's reluctancy to slam on the rear brake would have him hitting the inside of Anderson; which would be retaliated (slightly) in the following corner before the whoops as Jason ran Cooper a bit high, though within the allowed ruleset. It was then only a matter of time before Anderson charged to the rear wheel of Roczen, whom he tried to pass in the final stages with a cloud of riders congested in the latter corners of action! Ultimately finalized in fourth, the number twenty-one would have to be recognized prior to initiating the final quest. Once here, his resurgence would help him overtake Colt Nichols (which pushed him to fifth) early in the moto. He then resided here for quite a significant amount of time, finding comfort on this soil which was comparable to his native New Mexico/desert roots. All seemed to be well, as he moved past Aaron Plessinger with a little more than eight minutes to go...but disaster would strike merely two minutes later. The crash would occur in the whoop section, where Anderson's rear wheel would lose traction atop the moguls and fling him from side to side, unfortunately throwing him to the ground with tremendous velocity. And as a result (and rightfully so) Jason would be forced to exit the raceway without ever taking the checkered flag, accruing an unfortunate twenty-first position; but with his previous scores aiding his final accumulation, a tenth overall would be his final placement in the round twelve running order.

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