race recap
MAX ANSTIE | GRIT-208 | 250SX
February 14, 2023 · Max Anstie
MAX ANSTIE | GRIT-208 | 250SX
The championship contender, Max Anstie, would be attacking the race track yet again while stationed in Tampa, Florida. This circuit embodied a bit of a "GP" feel (if you could ever find that, on an SX course), with a prolonged sand section being created in the middle of the layout; which reminded Max of his many days in Europe, riding some of the toughest terrain in all of the world. His Honda machine would flourish in qualification, garnering a number of prominent laps en route to a prolific heat race. He would charge into corner number one (of heat two) with his throttle wide-open, which showed his enthusiasm and will to win. However the downside to his surplus of momentum, was a drift to the outside of the racetrack; causing him to lose multiple positions and battle within the latter stages of the top-five. He wasn't discouraged though, and would weave his way through various lines that promoted solid speeds, even while battling with Hunter Lawrence. Reading signs from his mechanic, he was aware of his lap-times as he fought the slick conditions that were now within each berm on the circuit. And throughout the eight-lap sequence, Anstie would go-on to reside fifth before heading to the main event. He knew at that point, an efficient start was going to have to be generated if he wanted to find success in the finalé. And as many would have guessed, he rose to the occasion; residing second as he approached the green flag while looking to find a way around Nate Thrasher. But the Tennessean wasn't making mistakes, leaving Anstie in the runner-up position as the first quarter of the moto was completed. Matters then escalated to the halfway point, where Max still resided in the runner-up position, though Hunter Lawrence was closing in quickly. Time then changed to around six minutes to go; where the red-plate holder would push Anstie to the outside in the corner prior to the sand section, leaving the number sixty-three residing third. From there forward, Max would generate a mistake free performance that embodied the "big picture" in regard to a championship. Points would be amassed, as he sped toward the finish-line with third-place in hand; proving that his first-round sequence was of certainty and he could contend for the title, with a bronze-medal overall now registered in Tampa.