Image: Octopi Media.

Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie scored his third podium of the 2023 250SX East season at Daytona in P2, with his rostrum run continuing to elevate his expectations as the season progresses.

Despite a strong AMA off-season that included an SX2 title in the 2022 Australian Supercross Championship (AUSX) and runner-up in the World Supercross Championship (WSX) 250 class last year, Anstie admittedly didn’t have clear expectations ahead of 2023 250SX .

“The expectations coming in, we didn’t really know and that quickly changed banging in a couple of podiums,” Anstie explained. “But I am still learning a lot, last week in Arlington I was thrown off-guard with a few things, and by the end of it I found a good set-up and I was like, ‘man if I can redo this day tomorrow I would be much better off’.

“It was the same today, every time I was out on the track I was changing stuff, and by all means the team are doing an amazing job because they are trying to make my bike faster, I’ve got Mike from Factory Connection – he’s been a magician with the bike. Everyone is telling me don’t change the bike, you are getting on the podium, but they can make it better.”

On Saturday Anstie equalled his best result of the season to date at Daytona, the British rider also standing on the rostrum at Houston (second) and Tampa (third). Following his strong start to the season, Anstie is second in the 250SX East title race, 14 points adrift of red-plate holder Hunter Lawrence.

“We want to try and improve and try and close that gap up to Hunter up front,” Anstie added. “Again, if I could redo the day tomorrow, I’ll start with what I had in the main and be much better off because every session out there I was searching for things. I don’t get paid for heat races, I don’t get paid for practice, I get paid for main events so happy to be on the box.”