VOL. 55 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 18, 2018 P93
did, but at the same time I have
learned from it and I'm probably
better because of how harsh the
rule was on me."
STILL THE UNDERDOG?
With Tomac now the two-
time defending 450cc National
Champion and the winner of the
Monster Energy Cup, and with
Musquin in top form, it's entirely
possible that Anderson is still
considered the underdog for
2019 even though he's running
the number-one on his motor-
cycle now.
"I still kind of feel like an under-
dog because people don't even
expect me to win next year, which
is cool with me," Anderson says.
UNDER PRESSURE
In 2018, considering the
early-season trouble for bo th
Musquin and Tomac (along with
Cole Seely, Justin Barcia and
others), Anderson had a chance
to clinch the title one round early
in Salt Lake City. All he had to
do was finish fifth place or better
and he'd have the title. Instead,
he went down in the first turn,
damaged his front wheel, and
had to pit. He ended up 17th.
"You put yourself in your posi-
tion. It was on me. I understood
that," Anderson said. "It was not
the best week after that. It was
pretty miserable, but at the same
time, I really felt the pressure
of that championship situation
coming down to the wire. Even
though I still didn't really have to
do amazing, I still had to perform
somewhat at Vegas. I think that
situation was good because I
really felt the world coming down
on me. I think that will prepare
me for future situations like that.
So it was kind of crazy. All I had
to do was get fifth to wrap it up,
which wouldn't have been a big
stretch with how my results were
so far in the whole season.
"Honestly, pressure doesn't
really bother me too much; I
always go out there and try my
best and whatever happens,
happens," Anderson says. "But
after Salt Lake, I had some pres-
sure. Before that, I feel like if
you think about it too much you
just kind of stress yourself out. I
don't really stress too much just
naturally. Just kind of my de-
meanor, I guess you could say.
After Salt Lake, I was stressing,
but before that I was just going
to go out there and try and do
my best and see how it went. It
didn't go very good."
However, Anderson says that
maintaining a big points lead is
probably more stressful than
having a small one.
"Honestly, it was kind of crazy
because I entered maybe the
eighth round with a really big
Anderson tallied four
wins en route to the title.
