Consistency key to Jason Anderson’s Supercross start
If you wanted to make a bet on Saturday’s Monster Energy Supercross series stop at AT&T Stadium, it would be wise to pick Jason Anderson to finish in the top five.
He has done it in the series’ first six stops this season. That consistency has put him in title contention in the 450SX class, the top in Supercross, in just his second season.
Anderson is third in points as he hits the dirt riding a string of three consecutive fourth-place finishes. Fourth place isn’t his goal, but it’s kept him within hailing distance of series leader Ryan Dungey.
I’m just looking for progression. A win, a fifth place, whatever, just as long as I’m getting better, I’m pretty happy with it.
Jason Anderson
who is third in the point standings.“I’ve been riding pretty good for the most part,” said Anderson, a member of the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team. “For the most part I want to be farther up front. I got a win in the first round, but other than that I’ve kind of been hovering around the fourth- or fifth-place spot. I want to try and step it up and win another race.”
Anderson won the season-opening event Jan. 9 in Anaheim, Calif., his first in the 450SX class. But Dungey has won four of the next five stops and the defending series champ has 144 points, 33 more than Anderson.
With Arlington being the seventh of 16 stops this year, Anderson knows he has time to make up some ground. But it’ll take mistakes by Dungey and more wins and podium finishes for Anderson to do that.
His showing in Anaheim gave Anderson the confidence that he can win at this level.
You don’t want to overwhelm yourself and try and pick up big chunks. I just want to be consistent.
Jason Anderson
who has a win, two fifths and three fourths this season“I’m just looking for progression,” said Anderson, who finished seventh in the series in his rookie year. “A win, a fifth place, whatever, just as long as I’m getting better, I’m pretty happy with it. This is my second year and I feel like I’m ahead of where I was last season at this point. The win definitely boosts your confidence because you know you can do it.”
Anderson, who just turned 23, has some confidence in Arlington too, even though he’s only raced once at AT&T Stadium. The New Mexico native grew up competing in amateur races in Decatur and Whitney.
He likes the dirt in Texas, too, especially since it’s tackier than some at venues on the West Coast. That allows for more grip and should provide Anderson chances at better starts. Dungey has dominated many of the races by being the first rider to the first turn.
“There’s really not much else you can do because you know he’s going to be up front just riding really good,” Anderson said. “If he has a bad weekend and I can get the win, that would allow me to make up a lot of ground. But he’s so solid right now. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself and try and pick up big chunks. I just want to be consistent.”
Monster Energy AMA Supercross
AT&T Stadium, Arlington
6:30 p.m. Saturday
TV: 7 p.m., FS1
This story was originally published February 18, 2016 at 6:16 PM with the headline "Consistency key to Jason Anderson’s Supercross start."