race recap
JASON ANDERSON | GRIT-208 | 450SX
February 14, 2023 · Jason Anderson
JASON ANDERSON | GRIT-208 | 450SX
Though conditions were similar to that of an outdoor national, with precipitation on the horizon, the team at Monster Energy Kawasaki would prepare the motorcycle to an immaculate degree. They were ready for whatever Mother Nature would bring their way, but were set to take advantage of the dry conditions in practice. Learning the track while simultaneously reaching for a spectacular lap-time, he would toggle between inside and outside pathways while exploding through the "bottom-end" range of power his Kawasaki engine possessed. Doing his best to speed around the hard-packed areas as well, he would generate a notable qualifying position prior to embarking on the heat races that followed. Aligned on the grid for his qualification process, the field would grab as much traction on the metal grate as possible prior to attacking the moisture-ridden course that followed. It would be difficult to gather a rhythm with conditions like these, grooves going every which way while the knobbie(s) dug for traction on every facet of the raceway. Nearly clipping tuff-blocks as he skated around the right-handed corner (before the whoops), his momentum would be imminent while traveling into the pad of moguls that followed. They were cupped, and he knew that overtaking the lead from Adam Cianciarulo would be a difficult matter; all the while the two rivals would battle amongst their mindsets in a game of milliseconds. Flicking the chassis to the right as he attempted to soak-up every single on the circuit, time would be valuable while pursuing forward to the checkered flag. Ultimately sustaining the first-place position in the final standings (after passing Cianciarulo prior to lap two beginning), it would be only a matter of time before the main event began. The track was now severely deterred and battered from the elements, along with the 250cc race that was ahead of them; making a strong-starting sequence crucial, while attempting to mimic the pace of championship contenders like Eli Tomac and Chase Sexton. Doing his best to maintain rhythm amongst the battered conditions, he and Justin Barcia were nearly matching each other throughout the majority of the first lap, when a giant mistake would be made by Anderson in the sand rollers. This led to he and the GasGas rider being side by side as they infiltrated the corner before the finish-line, where the twenty-one would drift wide and collide with Justin amongst the outer tuff-blocks! Now with both riders down, it would be a race against the clock as to how fast he could return to racing action. Outside of the top-twenty, it was now up to Anderson to see how far he could climb before the checkered flag. Running a rapid pace while weaving through the members of the 450cc field, he conquered checkpoints of top-fifteen registry, top-ten registry, and eventually into sixth; one spot ahead of rookie Justin Cooper, which would salvage his night prior to heading to Oakland.