Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/254008
INTERVIEW AMA SUPERCROSS 250 WEST POINTS LEADER JASON ANDERSON P74 right place at the right time. You know, I would have happily taken second and came back with the points lead even with that, but I think you've just got to be at the right place at the right time some- times. And I think I just need to keep putting myself in those po- sitions. Wilson was riding good and I would have been close to him, but I probably wouldn't have passed him. So, I just got a little golden goose thrown my way." The win didn't come without some paranoia, though, consid- ering his penalty from the previ- ous week. "I didn't even know what he [Dean Wilson] was doing!" An- derson says. "At first, I thought, 'Oh crap!' I thought maybe there were lights on the triple because he rolled it, and I was like, 'Oh man, I did not just do that again!' That's what was going through my head. And then I looked back and there was nothing going on and he started gassing it again, so it was crazy. But I just put my- self in good situations. I want to lead one of these things 15 laps through the whole main, though. That would be nice. I've only led like six laps!" As of the writing of this story, Anderson has two more rounds to race before the 250cc West goes on hiatus. "I think these last two rounds, I'll just approach them like I've ap- proached every round," Anderson says. "I'll just do my own thing and just focus on the start and be in the race. As long as I can be in then he wanted to race some East Supercross races on a KTM 350 SX/F, like Ken Roczen did a few times before he moved up to the 450cc class officially. But being in the championship lead when the series goes on break can be something of a burden, too. With Anderson in the points lead, it seems likely he won't get that 450-class opportunity, as his team and sponsors wouldn't want to risk an injury and lose a shot at their first-ever professional title. "I think it would be awesome," says Anderson, whose lap times have consistently been in the range of the top 450cc racers out West. "Like, I would take it up no matter what. The 350 would be similar to my 250, because it runs the same chassis, same suspension and everything. Just throw a different motor in there and go!" If he doesn't get the chance to jump aboard a 350 back East, and maybe even if he does, he's going to be spending the bulk of his time getting a jump on out- door testing on his new KTMs. With his fitness and confidence from Supercross, he expects to be a contender outdoors in 2014 as well. "And I think, with the KTM, that I'll be better [outdoors]," Ander- son says. "And my starts being better is only going to make ev- erything better. So, I think being up front every moto will be key, because last year I would always have to work my way up front, and by the time I got there I was maybe a little bit worn out, just because it takes so much effort to pass dudes. I think if you start up front and you can just ride your own deal, I'll be way better off. And I think I'm going to get better starts for sure because I've been working on those a lot. Everything that I have going on is better, so it's going to be a good outdoors and I think I can con- tend for a title there." So, don't expect Anderson to be pigeon-holed as a Supercross specialist, because he plans to do some work over the summer as well. CN " I ACTUALLY GOT SIDELINED FOR TWO RACES BECAUSE I WASN'T IN SHAPE AND I WASN'T PUTTING IN THE RESULTS. " the race every weekend, just with how I'm riding and everything, I just want to be aggressive and push toward the front every moto. Just be in the race. That's my whole goal every round." >>MX & 350S When the 250cc West goes on hiatus after the San Diego Supercross, Anderson plans to go home to New Mexico to celebrate his 21st birthday, and