MAX ANSTIE | GRIT-210 | 250SX

MAX ANSTIE | GRIT-210 | SX 250

With his Honda 250F fine-tuned to the highest degree, Max Anstie anticipated "fireworks" for the races that were to come in the evening program in Arlington. With the Triple Crown format, the attributes of persistence and attrition were at the forefront of those who withstood the test (of the trials) and walked away with successful overall finishes. Therefore it was evident after accruing a third-place lap-time (for practice) that he was on the right path, prior to the night show beginning. Clicking into gear, he would burst from the metal grate with his eyes set on the inner-most point of turn number one. Though a wave of riders (including Nate Thrasher) would drift further to the outside than what was desired, leaving many outside of the top twelve in disarray and funneling into the tuff-blocks. His rhythm combination (of tripling) onto (and over) the tabletop that preceded the finish-line was astounding, distancing himself from that of Tom Vialle who trailed. The battle between he and the aforementioned KTM rider was fierce, and nearly came to a climactic bar-banging sequence in the corner after the finish-line just after the fifth minute of action.Though he weathered the tricks that his adversary had put forth, and proceeded to carve acute angles into the ninety (and one-eighty) degree bends that followed. Excelling to an eventual finish of third, the second (of three) main events would be quick to follow. Combatting the majority of the pack to reside inside the top half of the field, his momentum when powering through the whoops was noticed by all in attendance. Doing his best to blitz in (some five to six deep), an eventual pattern of hopping would overtake the concluding four to five as he doubled and tripled into the swift turn that followed. He was mindful of where Chance Hymas was attempting to make passes, especially in corners where he allowed a multiple bike-width window to be opened on the inside. Thrashing the suspension jumping onto the tabletop before the finish-line, there was little to refute his quest for fourth on the final leaderboard. Eventually concluding the moto here, only the third segment of racing was left to be completed. The first three laps of this showcase were full of riders washing out, including both he and Hunter Lawrence in the first corner! Attempting to rebound from dead last, he was cognizant of how the track would break down, and would make adjustments as needed in order to stay on track with riders like Michael Mosiman who were just ahead of him. The pace between the two was paralleled and as the two-minute mark (of remaining time) would come to fruition, he would follow the overall podium contenders to the waving of the checkered flag...arriving in a well-deserved ninth, for fifth overall.

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