MAX ANSTIE | GRIT-218 | 250SX

MAX ANSTIE | GRIT-218 | SX 250

The fans of Nashville, Tennessee would look forward to Supercross returning to the metropolitan area; with numerous attendees viewing Fire Power Honda's Max Anstie as a legitimate contender for a top-five overall, after an incredible performance last week in East Rutherford where took the win! All in the class knew that Honda's Hunter Lawrence would be a mainstay at the front of the field, though there were those who contemplated how hard he would charge, based on the chances of him claiming a championship while at round fifteen of the current series. Nevertheless, the number sixty-three of Anstie would be explosive as he flew onto the circuit in the morning hours, tripling into the corner before the whoops amid ruts that were dragging his foot-pegs. The aforementioned red-plate holder would be hovering near the pinnacle of the standings, but the British native had to be acknowledged in his own right as he consistently accumulated a myriad of strong times. Maintaining solid traction through the sand section as well, there was little that could deter him as he stormed into heat two with confidence. Battling alongside Hunter Lawrence immediately (after surging forward for the lead in the opening rhythm lane), both he and his adversary were showing remarkable speed. And it seemed as though Anstie had what it took, to maintain the first place designation; until a miscalculation just after the last whoop would leave him on the top of the bowl(ed) corner that followed, and Lawrence would then work his way by! Now second, the recipe for finding success in these sprints, especially on a slippery surface like Nashville, was to not get ahead of yourself; and he seemed to maintain composure while taking advantage of the (current) prepped soil(s) of the Nissan layout. The course was determined to change, and would be extremely cupped and grooved as laps progressed, but there was little that could divert Anstie from a standing inside the top two with time looking to expire. Eventually finalized in second, he was ready to make a way into the top five overall standing for the finale that followed. In the early evening hours of this late April weekend, his opportunity to strike would be captured with authority in the first three laps of the points paying segment. It was Jordon Smith who was out front and ready to make the most of his lead, however no one could discredit the tenacity of Anstie as he leapt through the step-on/step-off section and slid into the chicane that was just thereafter. Making moves as quickly as possible, he would walk the line of urgency and patience while nearing the seven minute mark, scrubbing the "SX" triple to the best of his ability while realizing that KTM's Tom Vialle (who was maintaining a steady pace behind him) would be one to deal with in the final stages of the moto. All the while, he would pass that of Jeremy Martin for fifth; solidifying his stance in the top-five as the race dwindled to an eventual expiration. Ultimately clenching the aforementioned residency, it was Anstie who returned from his dominant performance in East Rutherford, to prove his sense of staying power while stationed in Nashville.

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