“People Booed Ricky Carmichael…” | Jason Anderson on Anaheim 2

Summary

Eli Tomac discusses his comeback from last to seventh in the main event at the supercross race, crediting his new bike for increased stability and speed. He analyzes the track's challenges, preferring the edge lines despite their risk. Tomac reflects on fans' reception to him versus Jett Lawrence after their clash last week, emphasizing racers must stay true to themselves. With four winners in four races, Tomac sees the competition as deep but believes consistency will reveal the championship contenders over the 10 round season.

Takeaways

• 😊 Eli says the new bike chassis helps with stability and consistency through corners
• 👍🏻 Eli credits passing and speed to being able to hold outside lines longer before moving to main line
• 😎 Eli thinks staying to outsides is faster but rut becomes safer option late in mains
• 🤔 Eli doesn't expect tracks to stay rough for main events after seeing them get smoothed out
• 🏁 Eli acknowledges competition is tough with 4 winners in 4 races but believes consistency will show true contenders
• 🧐 Eli doesn't think he rides overly aggressive, just really eager to win at times
• 🙂 Eli aims to apologize if he makes a bad pass but wants to win badly
• 😕 Eli says fans' opinions change quickly - he can go from loved to hated week to week
• 👍 Eli thinks Jett can regain fans' love by pushing through negativity and becoming great
• 🤞 Eli hopes to be one of the championship contenders after more races

Q & A

What improvements has Jason's new bike provided over his old chassis?

The new bike is more solid from the beginning of the corner to the apex, allowing Jason to carry more speed through that section. It also has less pitch which makes it more stable and less prone to front end errors.

Why was the 3-3-4 rhythm lane working so well for Jason?

Jason says the 3 jump didn't look very difficult, so he was able to carry good speed through that section. Since not many other riders were doing it, it gave Jason an advantage over them.

How was Jason able to make passes while riding the outside lines early in the race?

Jason says he had the speed and ability to send it past some guys when he wanted to make passes riding the outside lines. So he took advantage of that before switching to the safer inside lines later in the race.

How did the track change from practice to the main events?

It dried out quite a bit due to the wind. So when they prepped it for the mains, the track was better despite having fewer ruts. The rhythm lanes were still torn up though.

What is Jason's perspective on fans' opinions changing quickly?

He says fan opinion can change very fast - they may like you one week and hate you the next. So he focuses on staying true to himself rather than worrying about what fans think.

What does Jason think Jett Lawrence needs to do moving forward?

Jason says Jett needs to stand his ground and keep pushing to become great. If Jett puts his head down and improves, Jason thinks fans will come around and start to support him more over time.

Why can Jason sometimes come across as overly aggressive?

He says he never lacks in effort or desire to win. So sometimes Jason gets overeager making moves, even apologizing in his head mid-race knowing it was overly aggressive.

Does Jason feel the competition is deeper this year?

Not necessarily deeper in talent, but just very evenly matched at the top right now. He expects the contenders to separate over the full 10 rounds though.

How is Jason's championship standing despite not winning yet?

Jason says consistency has him only 7 points back in standings. If not for a penalty, he'd be just 3 points from the overall lead.

What is Jason's plan moving forward this season?

His plan is to keep putting himself in contention week in and week out until he breaks through to the top spot on the podium.

Outlines

00:00

🏁 Jason Anderson's Remarkable Comeback and Bike Insights

Jason Anderson reflects on his performance, highlighting his significant comeback from last to seventh place in just 12 minutes during a main event, a feat he attributes to his improved riding skills and a new bike chassis. He explains how the new bike enhances stability from the beginning of a corner to the apex, leading to faster miles per hour in that segment. Anderson credits the bike's reduced pitch for better handling, especially in corner entrances, contrasting it with the older model's instability. He also discusses adopting a unique back rhythm lane strategy during the race, inspired by another racer, Kade Clason, and the technical challenges of the track that demanded precision and constant effort, lacking any areas for rest. Anderson's ability to navigate the track with skill, particularly in the whoops sections, and his strategic choices in the vrut sections for consistency underscore his adaptability and keen racing instincts.

05:02

📈 Navigating Public Perception and Competitive Dynamics

Jason Anderson delves into the complexities of public perception and its impact on professional racers, using his and Jet Lawrence's experiences as examples. He discusses the fluctuating nature of fame and criticism in the age of social media, where opinions can shift rapidly. Anderson highlights the importance of self-belief and resilience in the face of public scrutiny, suggesting that maintaining a strong sense of self is crucial for enduring the highs and lows of a racing career. He also touches on the respect he receives from competitors, acknowledging his straightforwardness about racing incidents. Lastly, Anderson expresses optimism about the season's competitive landscape, noting the diversity in winners and the close points spread. Despite mixed results, he remains confident in his ability to be a key contender as the season progresses, emphasizing the unpredictability and depth of competition.

Keywords

💡Chassis

Chassis refers to the frame and body of a dirt bike. In the script, Jason Anderson talks about improvements to the chassis of his new bike for 2024. He says the new chassis is more solid through corners and helps him carry more speed. This shows how chassis design impacts bike handling and performance on the track. A good chassis leads to stability, speed, and efficient cornering.

💡Pitch

Pitch refers to the up and down tilting motion of a dirt bike. Anderson says his old bike had more pitch, meaning it tilted front to back more. This led to instability and a 'teeter-totter' feeling. His new bike has less pitch, making it more stable through corners. Pitch impacts how balanced and controlled a bike feels for the rider.

💡Rhythm

Rhythm sections are series of jumps on Supercross tracks. The script talks about Anderson using an uncommon 3-3-4 rhythm in the back section. This means hitting three jumps, then three more, then four. Anderson executed this rhythm smoothly while others struggled. Being able to maintain speed and hit precise lines through rhythms is a key skill.

💡Rollers

Rollers are small, rolling hills on the track. Anderson notes the track had rollers even in flat corners. These force the rider to work more, rather than having places to rest. The constant working makes for a physically grueling track.

💡Rutted

Rutted describes corners that have deep ruts worn into them from bikes. Anderson notes the track was heavily rutted in practice but smoothed out for the main event. Dealing with ruts adds another variable as riders must pick clean lines. Anderson handled the changes well.

💡Edges

Edges refers to riding up on the sides of obstacles like whoops. Anderson says the edges are faster early in the race but have more risk. The 'v' line through whoops is safer when tired. This shows Anderson's adaptability based on conditions.

💡Aggressive

Anderson admits to sometimes being too aggressive and making stupid passes. He acknowledges it can rub people the wrong way but says he's just eager to win. This honesty shows maturity in taking responsibility for his actions.

💡Consistency

Anderson notes the importance of consistency across the season. Having one podium but top 5's otherwise shows this. Consistency earns championship points over flash-in-the-pan wins.

💡Competition

The script talks about increased competition and parity in 2024. Four winners in four races shows a deep field. Anderson welcomes the challenge, noting the cream will rise over time.

💡Precision

Being precise hitting lines and corners was key on the technical track. Anderson executed precisely while others struggled. His precision demonstrates both bike control skills and mental focus.

Highlights

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Transcripts

[Applause]

well Jason Anderson would have been a

Podium small dock fourth overall but I

do have to ask that uh final main you're

coming from way back have you sent it

that hard in a main event while you were

rolling the first couple

laps yeah I mean being able to come from

dead last to seventh in 12 minutes is

pretty it's pretty tough so I haven't I

haven't had that speed in obviously the

last year to be able to do that I

haven't and right now I feel like I'm

riding really well and it's pretty cool

new bike this year what whates it do

best for you basically so far like

what's your biggest improvement over the

old chassis what is it basically

assisting you with the most um I think

this one's a lot more solid from

beginning of corner to Apex MH uh and it

makes me my miles per hour be a little

bit faster in that area I think honestly

just a chassis I think we have less

pitch on this new bike and I think on

the other bike we had a little more

pitch so there was a little more room

for error on the front end especially in

the entrance of the corners and the bike

was very

like teeter totter you know what I'm

saying the old bike and I think um our

bike's super stable right now so I think

um we're in a good spot and I think we

can keep rolling uh one thing that

caught me off guard today is the back

Rhythm Lane you were going 3 three 4 as

weird as this sounds the only other

person I saw do it was Kade clayon in

practice and you were knocking it out

all Mains nobody else really touched it

all night does did you think other dudes

were doing it you were putting that

section together and made it look so

easy it was pretty simple for me the

threein didn't look that bad no and you

want to know the funny thing the only

reason I did it is cuz I saw Kade clayon

do

it we were kind of joking up with the

Press Box we like dude some team's going

to sit down dartfish and go okay we have

a section to show you but it's Kade

clayon doing it exactly dude when I he

was in front of me in practice and I saw

him do it and I was like he did that

super easy and I was like it and

then I just started doing it uh big one

I knows tonight the way the tracks laid

out especially the onon off in the back

kind of inter turning rollers where's

the whoops there was just a lot of

places where it seemed like You' to be

really precise getting into the pockets

not clipping not clipping that's

something you're really good at so much

body language on the bike couple things

like that that something to me it stuck

out made the track look fairly technical

it was T honestly the track was a lot of

effort today um you had straight away

but the straightaway was pretty much

turning so you're kind of on an angle

and then another tough part was even the

flat Corner before the whoops it had

rollers in it so you're working the bike

the whole time so there's nowhere on the

track that was really necessarily like a

break so I think it was pretty high

heart rate uh big one I notic was

positive for you in the in the final M

especially is a lot of guys had gone to

jump line had gone to jump in and then

skim first set of whoops you were

skimming for quite a while like on the

sides before you went to the vout the

second set you were skimming the right

side just killing people in those

sections question for you about the

whole vrut thing when you were staying

up on the edges in the early laps you

were killing it a lot of guys default to

that vrut later in the main I would

argue you looked better up on the edges

is the vut just a safer option late in

the main it's just I was passing guys

when I was on the edges I think the

edges is faster but there's a lot more

room for error a lot more and if you can

be in the v you're maybe one tenth off

of the other side without the room for

air so I think consistency as the main

goes on it's a little bit safer

but luckily I was good enough to be on

the outside to be able to send it past a

couple guys when I wanted to pass him uh

the track from earlier in the day like

end of practice very dry on the Rhythm

sections but the corners were very

rutted they cleaned it up for the main I

was kind of surprised there was like no

ruts left in the corners anymore you

guys were pretty much pack backing it in

on almost every corner cutting down but

the Rhythm lanes were well are it just

not what I expected for the main events

after watching practice did it catch off

guard at all like how much the track

changed dude in time practice the tracks

a war zone like realistically um and I

feel like if you make it through

practice that's like your most

injury-prone time of the day cuz we're

trying to do a fast lap and to be honest

the tracks are dangerous you know just

because they break down so much it has

nothing to do I don't even know if they

can keep up prep wise or anything like

that and today I think when they hold

the dirt in it was soft but the dirt

dried out because we had wind it's been

dry so when it was built it was like

crusty and soft you know and that just

makes for so kickers you know to where

it's like spongy in the bottom and the

Top's

hard luckily it was dry enough to

whenever they prepped it it was actually

quite a bit better whenever we got to

the main events but yeah uh I have to

ask you at least one question about last

week more were you noticed tonight

Opening

Ceremonies lot of Applause for

you not so much for Jed were you

surprised at all or

no it just is what it is we've all to be

honest when you go through a career like

like me being 15 years in the thing is

is like I say I think you can really

change people's opinion and you just

have to be strong on who you are uh for

me I've gone year to year where I've had

people that don't like me had a lot of

hate and it's tough at this day and age

with social media but then right now

people like me for one post that I just

I said what I

thought but at the same time next week

they could hate me yeah so it's just

it's just tough how it goes you know and

and for jet I I think uh it's part of it

he's in the spotlight and that's what he

wants and the thing is is he needs to

stand on his ground and just keep

digging and and and be great and if he

becomes great and pushes through this

people are going to love him people boo

Ricky oh yeah you know people boo Ricky

but then in the end they loved him y so

that's just how it is do you feel like

uh even your competition like I know

there's guys that worry about racing you

but I feel like a lot of people at least

generally respect you because if you do

something I feel like you say like yeah

I did this cuz XYZ like you're not you

don't dabble around it kick around the

bush no I I do feel like for the most

part if I've ever been on been on the

other side of it to where I'm the

aggressor I know what I do wrong you

know sometimes it comes from a place to

where I feel like I have intent you know

to be a but then I also have

times where I'm just too eager you know

to where I get in there and I'm like

sorry like I'm already like in my head

apologizing for what I'm doing you know

because it's just a stupid move on my

part but we want we want it you know as

as a racer so um there's never lack of

try for me and uh sometimes it comes off

the wrong way in my riding and and and

being too aggressive but I just want it

Al I want saying from the fans

standpoint we're four rounds in we've

had four different winners you still

have probably to pick up one I shouldn't

sorry not pick up just one but you're

going to win this season Eli like this

is turning out to to be what we always

talk about every year beforehand like we

could have the most winners that we've

seen a long time in a season does the

competition level really feel deeper to

you or is it just the way it's playing

out in the early races it's the way it's

playing out you never know and right now

I have one

Podium um and honestly my results have

been kind of all over the place luckily

I've been three top five so I'm

consistent but um I'm only seven points

out if I wouldn't have got docked I'd

only be three points behind the lead so

it's it's a crazy series but at the same

time you get 10 Rounds in you'll see who

the players are and I'm hoping to be one

of them