Max Anstie got news this week that he doesn’t have a ride for 2020. Standing Construct KTM couldn’t’ find the budget for a third rider next year, and the likeable Brit needs to start looking for something, and soon. 

No doubt his Lommel performance opened some eyes, and we can’t forget he has supercross skills, so America isn’t ruled out of the picture, maybe even on a 250. Throughout the season Anstie has shown signs of his best, and with multiple GP wins in MX2, he knows how to win at this level.

We spoke to Max yesterday and he have us a great interview and also gave us his view on the upcoming MXoN and what he thinks Team USA can do in the tough conditions of Assen.

MXlarge: Obviously the news came out this week that you won’t be racing for Standing Construct KTM in 2020. Had you been dealing with any other teams anyway, or have something else in the pipeline?

Anstie: Yes, it is a shame that came out this week. Tim was pushing really hard to keep me in the team, I think from the outside a lot of people don’t understand how expensive it is for a privateer team, and Tim spends his own money to make it happen and go to these overseas races and stuff. It is a shame, but it wasn’t through bad feelings. I am sure Tim can fill you in on those details. I would have liked to have stayed, to be on the same bike, but I am now talking to teams, but nothing signed or lined up. I can speak a little more in Imola, but its tough. A lot of the good factory teams are sorted out and we will see what doors open. I have a few races I can go and do well and hopefully perform, and we will see what happens.

MXlarge: I get the feeling you have something?

Anstie: No, I really haven’t. I don’t have anything done and I was waiting with the situation with Tim. In Europe it is tough, and I am looking at options in America, but it is hard when I am over here, but I do have people working on the case over there.

MXlarge: It is unfortunate, because you have had two or three races where you have really been on it, like Lommel, or Mantova, or Valkenswaard, but you are down in 11^th place in the series points.

Anstie: Yes, but if you look at it that way. Most people at the races see what is going on and the amount of times I was running up there, like Valkenswaard, were I was leading the race, and I had a small crash and got the footpeg got stuck in my trousers and I went from an easy top five to 20^th or something. Indonesia also, I was really fast in the first one and then just missed a podium there. Overall, I have had like eight motos I haven’t finished and that is where I have had a mess up this year. I think it is what it is, and we have been unlucky. Even in Argentina I went DNF and fourth.

MXLarge: HRC seem to be very quiet with their second rider. Some are saying Mitchell Evans, some are saying something else, but have you spoken to them?

Anstie: Yes, I have spoken to them, but at the moment, I am waiting. I guess they have to see what they are doing, but I am sure they have their two MXGP guys already lined up. I am 99% sure of that, but I am waiting to see. They still have to confirm what they are doing. I have spoken to all the teams.

MXlarge: Changing the subject, the British team will be announced on the weekend and it is clear you are in the two with Ben (Watson) and either Shaun (Simpson) or Adam (Sterry) is the third rider. After Lommel with yourself, Ben and Adam all riding really well, Team GB looks very strong, or Shaun who is a great sand rider. How excited are you for that race?

Anstie: We have a really strong team, and we still have four GPs left and we all have to make it there. We have three guys to get there, but we are lucky we have strong guys, and for sure in the sand. I am really, really excited for Assen, and Mark will announce it this weekend, so I can’t announce it. We have a good group of guys and I haven’t been this excited for a while. Holland will be strong, and I was riding with Jeffrey yesterday and he will be full gas, because he is on it. They have a strong team, but you know what it is like, anything can happen. I mean France will be good, but if somebody does down it hinders your score.

MXlarge: I think this American team picked also looks strong.

Anstie: Yes, I mean Osborne knows the situation with it and I the sand and in Europe. We will see. I guess we will see. Assen is a strange place though.

MXlarge: I agree, if they struggled at Redbud, they are really going to struggle at Assen.

Anstie: I would think so, but they are coming over early and they know not to underestimate it, and for sure they are going to be better prepared than they were last year. They will do all the prep they can. For us we have a busy time, with China, Turkey, but we don’t need much time to prepare for it.

MXlarge: I guess for sand you guys will be underdone, while Team USA will be in the sand a lot?

Anstie: Yes, but I mean, I am not worrying, not too stressed what they are doing.

MXlarge: I was actually speaking to Davey Coombs from MXsports and RacerX and we talked about the difference between the AMA guys and the FIM guys and the difference at the moment. What is your opinion on it?

Anstie: You know, the thing is, it is such a different thing. People get themselves in the US vs Europe war. Let’s take Redbud last year, I was riding around with Tomac, and watching him struggling in that situation. The track was prepared by Youthstream, and seven days later I was watching him win a million dollars in Vegas. I mean, I am not being funny, but what do you think he prepped more for. Of course, he wanted to do well at the Nations, but I know, the bonus money I got from going 1-1 at the Nations pays for your dinner.

MXlarge: Would you have gone for the million instead?

Anstie: Yes, exactly. You would want to win Monster Cup wouldn’t you. They guys there are so focused on Supercross it takes away their motocross. We ride the sand, we ride in the rain, and the sand and the mud and I would be shocked if they were better on this stuff than us, because Jeffrey and Cairoli, or Febvre and Gajser, all the guys are so good, but take them to supercross and its different. Also, the American motocross tracks are so different. If you put our guys over there for a whole season, I think it would be different. I think Outdoors the European guys would do pretty good, but the way they prep the track over there, it’s different. In the GPs it takes experiences to be good, because you learn how they prep the tracks and how much water they put down and it is an experience or years. I know what Loket will be like, or going to Lommel, and I know how those tracks are. Again, all the top 15 guys in MXGP are the same. I think you can’t compare.

MXLarge: I don’t want to sound bias, but if I watch the highlights of MXGP, and the highlights of AMA Nationals, the Nationals don’t have the intensity of the MXGP class.

Anstie: Yes, at the end of the day I haven’t watched too much of the Nationals, but I can’t disagree with you, and it feels bloody intense when I am riding.

MXlarge: It is like MXGP is supercross intensity outdoors.

Anstie: Yes, that is what it feels like. It is a difficult one, because there is always the battle between AMA and FIM. I think the depth in MXGP when everyone is strong, it is really deep, and all the bikes and teams are solid and that raises the level.