A first-career podium for Fire Power Honda’s Max Anstie in the 250SX East opener at Houston came over a decade after his debut in Monster Energy Supercross, marking a convincing start to his 2023 campaign.

After clinching the Australian SX2 crown in the off-season, Anstie surprised immediately on Saturday at NRG Stadium logging the fastest laps in both 250SX qualifying sessions heading into the night show. From there, the 29-year-old finished P2 in his heat race and repeated that result in the main event.

“Honestly, it’s a dream,” said Anstie. “I’ve waited a long time to be up here, to go up those steps onto the podium. My very first year of Supercross was 2010, I was just 16 years old and I nearly got a podium then. Man, then the next year I went back to Europe and never came back.

“It’s been a long time, I’ve been racing MXGPs over there and got into the swing of that and had great success, but since I’ve come back to America and made that move, it’s been amazing to be here on a 250 and be competitive and racing these guys.”

Typically recognized as a 450 rider, Anstie was left without an option after the previous team he rode for folded. After multiple offers from Yarrive Konsky and Martin Davalos to come and try the Fire Power Honda late in 2022, Anstie decided to take them up on the offer and go and try the bike. That was instrumental in his decision to step back to the CRF250R.

“At first I thought, I’m a 450 boy, I’ve been in the 450 class for ages,” added Anstie. “Then a few other deals I had lined up fell through, so I thought bugger it and I called Marty [Davalos] and said, ‘is your bike ready? I’ll come up and see the boys and ride it at MTF’. So I drove there, it was about three hours for me and it was after they’d just finished the Supercross at Salt Lake City.

“I went and tested the bike and told him I really have no idea with the 250, I couldn’t tell you if it’s a good bike or a bad bike – I haven’t ridden one since 2016. I got off a 250 at MXoN at Maggiora, I thought that was the last time I’d ever ride one, I’d aged out of the MX2 class over there. Then all of a sudden, I get to America and I can ride a 250 again, it was something that took a little mulling over, but I’m bloody glad that I did do this, cause it’s been great fun.”

The series now heads to Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on 11 February, in what will be round two for the 250SX East class.