Jason Anderson Interview: Detroit Press Day
February 02, 2024
Last week: incredible riding. Talk us through that last race: going down and then the charge through the pack.
I had a decent first one, good second one. And then the third one fell in the first lap and was kind of panicked a little bit to get back up to the front. And yeah, I was able to get back up to I think seventh and it was a good charge. But with those triple crowns you're limited to only 12 minutes… but it was good. I enjoyed the racetrack and I had fun racing.Any thoughts on the penalty? You weren't really speeding that much… does that kind of suck?
Well, even with the penalty, I understand if they want to penalize me, but just in the past they've penalized guys' championship points; not taken away their podium. I think Chase last year here jumped on a Red cross flag and he got docked championship points, but he was still able to keep his trophy. So it's kind of tough whenever the AMA is taking points and money out of your pocket. You know, they say, “Oh, we like you, man” and stuff like that. But I'm like: “it don't really fucking feel like it.”Yeah, it seems like a pattern almost.
Yeah. Uhhuh.The bike is obviously new this year, but it also seems like a new you: you’re kind of back to your 2022 self. Do you feel back? Do you feel better than ever?
Yeah, I mean, everyone always says that “back to your 2022 self”. I’m like, nah, it's new. It's always new, you know, we're always progressing, so I feel good on the bike and, I’m trying to be even better than that.It does seem like you have cyclical patterns: you have an excelling year, then a year that may be not so great. Is that something you've noticed? Is it hard to have continued momentum?
I mean, that’s just life in general, you know. Having good year after good year is pretty tough. And I think with our sport, that's what all my competition gets paid to do: is to be better than each other. So sometimes when I'm a little off, it’s hard; you have six guys that are ready to be there and be ripping.What's your general goals and expectations: win every week? Or do you try to be a little bit more realistic than that? Are you happy with the podium?
Happy? I mean, it's kind of crazy to say you want to win every week, but I think if I could put myself in the position to be able to be on the podium and take wins when they're within grasp… I think that's my biggest goal.Let’s talk about Jett. I think a lot of people gained respect for you opening up; being honest like that. Talk us through the decision to open up like that… and have you spoken to Jett personally since then?
Yeah, he came up to me before the night show at Anaheim too, but I mean, it's water under the bridge now. I just got heated. That's basically it.
