race recap
JASON ANDERSON | GRIT-209 | 450SX
February 20, 2023 · Jason Anderson
JASON ANDERSON | GRIT-209 | SX 450
A mainstay when competing for top five's in recent memory, Kawasaki's Jason Anderson would eye the canvas in Oakland as an opportunistic platform to again find success in this difficult 450cc field. He had been training at the highest level for months now, and felt as though he had more to showcase (than what had been displayed) even with phenomenal runs in the opening rounds of the series. That sentiment would be reflected in practice, where he stockpiled a number of fast laps while ultimately qualifying second before advancing to the night show. After opening ceremonies and the 250cc heats would conclude, it was time for he and his Kawasaki to plunge into the fray; which would consist of dozen's of circuits in the hours to follow, alongside world-renowned competition at the sports highest stage. For the first minute (or two of competition), he would be contending for the second-place position, prior to settling in and adjusting to the conditions that would be at his disposal. Shredding through the right-hander prior to the initial rhythm section on the track, his timing for the first "three and three" sequence would have him amplifying his gap over rival, Justin Barcia, roughly one-half of a second (more) than what was previously displayed. And from there forward, it would be a game of milliseconds; where they raced against the clock, under intense scrutiny amid a deteriorating racetrack. Eventually generating a finish of second, the memo for the main even to follow would be on track with his trajectory thus far in the initial rounds of the series. The pack would be bottled-up on lap number one of this twenty-one minute brigade, where the chicane after the mechanic's area would have opponents clashing into one another with a smashing of radiators and handlebars alike. Luckily, he would adopt a pace that had him residing within a fourth-place standing; which was a flow that could be sustained through laps six and seven. Distancing his Kawasaki machine from Ken Roczen and Aaron Plessinger who trailed, there was little time to waste with lap traffic now becoming a bit of a factor; though his aspirations would quickly divert with a wash-out just after the mechanic's area! Losing a few positions, he remounted as fast as possible in order to salvage a standing inside the top six. This prolonged circuit would promote longevity and mistake-free riding; and with his ability to keep tripling through both of the longest rhythm sections (even prior to the finish-line) his aspirations of becoming a mainstay inside the top-five became clearer and clearer. Continuing to run at a pristine level even with less than three minutes to go, he would look across the circuit to see Eli Tomac surging forward en route to a win. And after moving around Ken Roczen (in the laps prior) there was little argument that he didn't deserver the fifth-place result in which he obtained.