Photos by: Bavo Swijgers

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Max Anstie took victory last weekend in the MX2 class at the opening round of the Maxxis British Motocross Championship. The 22-year-old knows that his final year in the MX2 class should be a good one, and as he learns the Husqvarna machine his results continue to improve.

We caught up with Anstie and asked him about his win last weekend, and also the exciting future with Husqvarna. A move that will see him race at least two years in the MXGP class with them.

Max, how was your weekend in England [Round 1 of British MX Championship]?

It was really nice on the weekend to ride back in England. I had my first British championship win. It was nice to go back and do the same. We have been working hard with the bike the last few weeks to try and get myself a little more comfortable. We need to find a few things—searching around a little for some things we need to make changes on. It was a few more laps, some moto’s. It was perfect for what I need at the moment. It was nice to get the job done and my teammate was also riding well.

 

Can you explain the two moto’s?

I got some good starts actually and considering I haven’t done a concrete start in a long time, I was pleased to get off the gate. I got the lead early and just did my laps and that was my goal: to just ride my own pace and own laps. It was nice to have my teammate along to keep me on my toes. I set a good pace and was just doing my laps.

Max has raced many bikes, in different series' and on a myriad of continents, but with his Husky deal he is locked in for three years.
Max has raced many bikes, in different series’ and on a myriad of continents, but with his Husky deal he is locked in for three years.

You have probably lived and raced in more countries than just about any other riders. Do you still feel British when back at home?

I do feel British, but I have been in Belgium for a couple of weeks and it was nice to get back home. I do like racing the British championship. If it was up to me I would do the British and the GP’s., but I need to do the Dutch rounds. It’s nice being in front of the home crowd and I have friends at the British races. While in Holland it’s a little bit different. Obviously, I have raced just about everywhere from the Dutch, the Italian, the German, the American, and more, but I do like being back home and racing.

 

I heard it was a big crowd. How was the event?

It was a good crowd and I think it was a good weekend. You had Tommy Searle and Shaun Simpson in the 450 class and for us it was nice to be a wildcard and the British guys are always fast. It was a good crowd, and they did a good job.

 

What is the plan for Valkenswaard?

You know, I just want to race my laps and do my own thing. I need more time on the bike. Obviously, because of my crash at the Des Nations I didn’t get much time on the new bike and we were limited to preparing. I mean, I did a couple of the warm-up races, but I didn’t have my speed. Still, going to Qatar and Thailand, my intensity wasn’t what it should have been. I think I have done half the hours on the bike as the other guys.

 

When do you think we will see you at 100%?

It is a long season, and I know I will be strong. My goal was to pick it up around the third, fourth or fifth rounds. I knew at the end of last season I was fast, but it isn’t easy to do that when you haven’t got the preparation you need. I feel with the new team there is a lot of potential there. What we can show will be much better, we are still good and solid, but the first two rounds this year were much better than last year. Last year I didn’t score any points in the opening two rounds. I was at the doctor trying to put my body back together after Qatar.

If Max can stay injury free and gain momentum, there can be days where he challenges Jeffrey Herlings for wins.
If Max can stay injury free and gain momentum, there can be days where he challenges Jeffrey Herlings for wins.

Will you race more rounds of the Maxxis British MX Championship?

I don’t know. I would like to, but I need to race the Dutch championship. It depends on the team and how it fits with that. I will be busy, but if I get a weekend off and a British is on, I will go. I think I can do the last few rounds.

 

An out of the box question. Seeing [Romain] Febvre and [Tim] Gajser moving up, do you think [Jeffrey] Herlings will dominate when he moves up in 2017?

We will have to wait and see. You know I don’t really look at him; I am busy with myself. I am sure he has a good group of guys around him, and that is what I am trying to create. I am happy I have put myself in a position that I will be with the Husqvarna factory team for three years. This year on the MX2 class, and 2017 and 2018 in the MXGP class. I am trying to get the right people around me to create that perfect situation. I feel the move I have made is really good for me. Looking at those guys who moved to the MXGP class, they have good people around them.

 

You must be excited to move up, because with your style you should do pretty well?

I will do my thing, and I am excited to stay for the same brand for three years. I have been a pro since I was 16, and this is my seventh year in the MX2 class. Every year I have changed bike and pretty much changed teams. I was with the Dixon team for two years, but we went from Yamaha to Kawasaki. You have to always learn the new group and, in the long run, I’ve met a lot of people and rode a lot of bikes, but you need stability. When you are lining up on a new bike, you need to see where you are at. You are changing settings and stuff all the time. I will be on the same bike and while it will move to the 450. I think this will be a big advantage for me.

 

Riding for the Husqvarna factory team in 2017 and 2018 has to give you a lot of confidence. It’s pretty much like racing for the Red Bull KTM factory team, the most powerful in the MXGP class.

The guys at IceOne, I know they are putting a big effort in and they have all the information to do the job. Obviously, KTM and Husqvarna are two different teams, and I really like to be part of the Husqvarna heritage, you know the pioneers of the sport really. There are a lot of great teams in the MXGP class, but I am so happy to have this team and have two years with them in the MXGP class to see where I am at.

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