Max Anstie column from August
“You know people always say that bad things all ways happen in threes?? Well”… a shoulder injury early in the week of Ponca City forced me to pull out a day early, then going into the finals at Loretta Lynns in pole more problems occurred, then after winning the first moto my carburetor magically fell out in Holland two laps before the end on the last moto!! So really it hasn’t been a great month!
But still for my first year riding in America I feel that I have learnt a lot, obviously it would have been cool to get a title at LL but that’s the way it goes! I had a chat with my dad whilst in the hospital at Tennessee about how the little bike are becoming a bit of a pain and that the world championship in Holland would be my last race on the 85s. Unfortunately my finale on the 85s didn’t end up to good! The whole team had done a great job in Holland but a small mistake cost us the championship. I was just getting so big on the bike, and it was starting to make things difficult. I mean , I have already raced the 250f and 125cc quiet a lot but having to ride 85 small wheel, Supermini (112cc big wheel), 125cc and 250f at the same race was a great stepping stone at first, but now is becoming a nuisance. Count down till Anaheim!!!
In reality the national American amateur races have near enough finished now. Its just a big build up to Lorettas then everyone just moves on… for example, the amateur A guys go to the last four rounds of the outdoor nationals then to supercross, people like me/ Tomac move to the B class and big bikes full time… even though on paper there are 2 more amateur nationals to go. Its like a big preparation time.
After Holland I spent some time at home in England with my mum, then started my core training on the 250f. Dad run a few school here and there and we popped back out to Holland to train for a bit.
Then it was Year 11 time!!! Whoop. I went back into school to make sure everything was up to scratch with my work….
I’ll be back soon!
Max
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New Max Anstie Column
Hi Guys,
Going 10 mph down the Freeway is not the way I expected to spend the 9 hour drive up to Mammoth Mtn , which should have only taken 4hours. Once being towed into the track buy the water truck we unloaded Mary Jane and did some burnouts in our practice session. We then had 3 days of getting acclimatized before the racing began! So, we had lot of fun on our mountain bikes and luckily Devin had put in some 450EXC bikes so we could get around. It was nothing like southern California, there were trees!!! Haha. It was a lot like Bulgaria and perfect weather everyday. It is known as one of the most scenic and exciting events of the amateur schedule, they didn’t dissapoint!
The mini week started on Monday and didn’t go as well as hoped. I took a few moto wins but an unfortunate crash lead me to being sat in a hospital bed. The DOCs said I had to rest for 8 weeks but as always… I didn’t have that long!!
I was back out the next day not feeling to good, but preparing for the big bikes.
Let alone having the crash, I was also going into my first ever race on the 250f! EVERYONE down at KTM had done a Wicked job on my bike. We may have had the slowest vehicle but we definitely had the fastest bikes!!!
I was going in with some super fast guys and in my heat race managed to pull the holeshot. I then was able to break away from the rest of the pack whilst they were all getting tangled up with each other, to take the win!
In the final, my flyin machine went to the front. Taking the holeshot, It wasn’t long until the pressure started building and one of the Suzuki riders tried to make a move. I held my position and eventually took the WIN!!
That was awesome!! Taking my first ever 250f win….
That night we were all sat in the pool at our hotel when someone started shouting, we looked up and saw a BEAR… it was so cool. (for me anyway) and something that wasn’t so cool…. Well we had a little problem. On the way back from the track, because we only had 2 EXC 450s we had to double up. I went on with my dad and Jordan and Devin on the other. Seeing as Devin didn’t feel comfortable on the bike with someone on the back she let Jordan drive, the problem was that he was only 15 and didn’t have a drivers license! AND as you guessed he got pulled over by the cops!! (I was laughing) luckily the Devmiester got us out of it!! hahahahaha
The next day I was ready to go again and with Murray Miller the track official showing me the lines I was ready to win another title.
I placed second in my heat race and was “ready to race”.
Once again I managed to squeeze the holeshot and make an early break in the main. I kept out in front for the remainder of the race and brought my KTM to the top step!
An amazing week, I had so much fun with the team (Devin, Joe, Mike). I cant wait until next year!!
Thanks again Murray…
…………..
soon after Mammoth we headed to “da east side” over in Virginia! We were staying with Zack Osbourne and Al Albiker to prepare Loretta Lynns in two weeks. We had a lot of fun riding and training, also some European guys came to race and train with us.
After a while in Virginia we found our self’s at World Mini in Oklahoma…. Which was the week before LL. I had been there once before in 2005 on the 65s and had a great time so I am hoping to do the same again this time!!
Its that time of month again!! It only feels like yesterday that I sent my last column in!!
max
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Mammoth Mountain Race Report
Hi Guys,
Going 10 mph down the Freeway is not the way I expected to spend the 9 hour drive up to Mammoth Mtn , which should have only taken 4hours. Once being towed into the track buy the water truck we unloaded Mary Jane and did some burnouts in our practice session. We then had 3 days of getting acclimatized before the racing began! So, we had lot of fun on our mountain bikes and luckily Devin had put in some 450EXC bikes so we could get around. It was nothing like southern California, there were trees!!! Haha. It was a lot like Bulgaria and perfect weather everyday.
We may have had the slowest vehicle but we definitely had the fastest bikes!!!
The mini week started on Monday and didn’t go as well as hoped. I took a few moto wins but an unfortunate crash lead me to being sat in a hospital bed. The DOCs said I had to rest for 8 weeks but as always… I didn’t have that long!!
I was back out the next day not feeling to good, but preparing for the big bikes.
Let alone having the crash, I was also going into my first ever race on the 250f! the boys down at KTM had done a Wicked job on my bike.
I was going in with some super fast guys and in my heat race managed to pull the holeshot. I then was able to break away from the rest of the pack whilst they were all getting tangled up with each other, to take the win!
In the final, my flyin machine went to the front. Taking the holeshot, It wasn’t long until the pressure started building and one of the Suzuki riders tried to make a move. I held my position and eventually took the WIN!! That was awesome!! Taking my first ever 250f win….
That night we were all sat in the pool at our hotel when someone started shouting, we looked up and saw a BEAR… it was so cool. (for me anyway)
The next day I was ready to go again and with Murray Miller the track official showing me the lines I was ready to win another title.
I placed second in my heat race and was “ready to race”.
Once again I managed to squeeze the holeshot and make an early break in the main. I kept out in front for the remainder of the race and brought my KTM to the top step!
An amazing week, I had so much fun with the team (Devin, Joe, Mike). I cant wait until next year!!
Thanks again Murray…
Max
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June Column from Max
Hey everyone,
Back in America we had a few days of testing before heading out to Honeylake for a Loretta Lynn’s Qualifier. I only had to place in the top 5 to go through to the real deal. I am only aiming to qualify in both supermini classes but also qualified in the 125cc schoolboy to give me a choice. I managed to win all 9 races I entered which was wicked massive!!!
The weekend after our visit to Reno I found myself on the start line of the famous Glen Helen watching Eli Tomac’s dad get in a fight with the officials… it all started a mere 2 hours before when we both ACCIDENTLY on purpose went out in the wrong practice. Immediately we were disqualified for the day!! Of course for me it didn’t really matter because I had already qualified last weekend, but for ET it was a different story. If he didn’t make it here he wouldn’t be able to race at Loretta’s! Unfortunately we were all set on going to the beach for the day, when one of the officials came over and told us they wanted to see a battle so they let us race! BUT we had to go to the line in last. We were waiting for the other 40 riders to go on to the gate, when the called number 43! Knowing he had to go last, he quietly slipped onto the start in about 15th. Then the uproar started! The other parents were shouting and complaining. Still, we all got onto the start. Then. The officials came over and took every single rider of the gate… haha.
And that was when I was sat there watching the calm and calculated John Tomac’s cage get a little rattled.
I had 6 motos and was sure that there would be some good races.
The first two motos were much the same. I sat right in behind Tomac for the whole race figuring out my pass moves!
During this time ET’S mOm was calling us all sorts of nasty names: haha. She said we had bad edict for racing when all ready qualifyied! haha
In the second two motos I was ready to strike tucked right in behind him when he (in both motos) made a mistake and gave it to me.
The last motos were very close! I was once again right behind ET (in both motos) and used my cunning to over power him! Just as we launched into the sand section I switched inside outside then (in both motos) squeezed by ET feet up DUTCH style!!
After that exciting day we prepared for the next action packed day… on 125’s!!!
I love the 125’s. haha. I only had 3 races but with many battles with my own team mate Jason Anderson.
I just seem to fit the big bike really well and when I went of the line in the first moto I knew It was going to be good. I came around in about 5th and doing some fat scrubbs pushed into second behind Jason. I managed to close the gap and railing a huge rut at the bottom of the hill, slingshot passed him.
A sweet burnout on the start put me neck a neck with the other ktm rider! And funnily enough we went across the finish within ½ a bike length!
The third moto went a little smoother as I found myself out in front early and kept it like that.
Whooooowww an eventfull couple days!!
Now time to relax! Haha. We got back into our usual routine of training and built some freekin weekin redoncules BMX jumps!! We had a bit of chill time, so Devin (the KTM race co- ordinater) took us to the Beach for a weekend. We had loads of fun building sand castles. haha
After some fat crashes on the jumps we picked up the KTM box van and headed up to Mammouth for another adventure… with Mary Jane!
To be continued…
max
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New column from Max
Hey everyone,
THE BIG 15… 25TH APRIL… A DATE TO REMEMBER!!
A successful week in Vegas for the world mini, taking two titles (the supermini and 85cc 14 – 16 mod) and having some amazing races with Americas best and finishing an outstanding 3rd in the 125cc class put me straight back on a plane to Europe! After thJune 9 hour flight we were on our way to Holland for the 2nd round of the European championship at Lierop. I was contending in this race, for one to come back to Europe and see all my friends and family but also to see what I was up against for the world round in August.
We had Lionel and Martine, my old Belgian Mechanic from last year helping us out with Rob Rolvink RR doing my engine. The track was looking good and the weather was also looking okay and would stay that way for the remainder of the weekend.
On the Saturday I ended up 2nd in timed training to Dutch Jeffrey Herlings but within 0.2 of a second it was going to be a good race!!
In the first moto, I got of to a good start (it felt weird starting on sand after so long on concrete!!) and quickly moved into the lead. Jeffrey was right in tow and we were going fast!! After the 25+2 lap race I managed to hold off the Dutch rider to take the win!! It felt good to come back to Holland and be straight back on top!! But the next race was going to be a little more interesting!!
Again I got off to a good start and moved to the front pretty fast. Jeffrey was once again tapping on my back wheel when after 5 laps he had disappeared!! Another three laps on my dirt scooter exploded!!! Haha. I then found out that Jeffreys bike had also broken and he would also be getting a DNF!! Quite an eventful race… the two leaders bike stopping!!
After the race we discovered that the problem can be resolved easily and the bike will be definitely be ready for Rhenen next Thursday for another play in the sand…
… I then spent some time with my mum before travelling back out to the sand of Lommel on Wednesday then to Rhenen, Holland the following day.
it is one of the more harder tracks of Holland (sand wise). Timed training went well, I took pole position over the Dutch 150cc rider Donny Basjemire.
The first moto started well, I was about 5th around the first corner and quickly found my self out in front. I put my head down and when I looked back up 20min later I was half a minute in front of the second place rider.
The second moto was much the same, I got out into the lead early and never looked back.
We then said our goodbyes to our fellow Dutch men and were on our way on another adventure!!...
Click here to watch a movie of the first moto
Click here to watch a movie of the second moto
Some supercross training at home in England and many trips up to the US Embassy resulted in us getting our US
Visa and getting back on a plane to America.
To be continued…
Max.