Max Anstie set up for 2017 MX1 ride
By Sean Lawless on 18th Nov 15
Max Anstie is not only confirmed to race factory Husqvarnas for Jacky Martens Rockstar Nestaan team for his final year in MX2, the Husky factory has already signed up the Brit to join the IceOne team for his move to MXGP in 2017/2018.
"I am really happy with the opportunity that I have been given to ride with Factory Husqvarna for the next three years,” said Max. "I wanted stability so I can focus on my job and nothing else.”
The deal with Martens was set up in May and he was then contacted by IceOne's Kimi Raikkonen and Antti Pyrhonen about staying with Husqvarna when he aged out of MX2 the following season.
"They made me an offer I can't really turn down. I'm solid now for the next few years with the Husqvarna motocross family.
"I've been with so many different teams and on so many different bikes that it's great to have the stability.
"I'm flying out to the Milan Show tonight to start and I'm really excited.
"They know what it takes to get the job done and it's refreshing to work with a group who are on the same level as myself in working hard and efficiently.
"Going into my last year in the MX2 class I had to take the opportunity to ride for a factory team and give myself the best chance for a title.”
Max is also well on the road to recovery after his horror crash at the Motocross of Nations.
"My shoulder and back feel good. I've just come back from hospital and they're happy with everything and my progress is going well. I just need to build up my strength and I can start riding.
"It's a case of healing up and getting myself ready.
"I'm confident – I have a good plan and a good programme – and I'm going to surround myself with the right people.”
Christophe Charlier is confirmed as 2016 team-mate to Max Nagl at IceOne and Thomas Covington joins Anstie on factory 250s in the Martens team.
Conrad Mewse switches from KTM for his move to EMX250 while Danish schoolboy Mikkel Haarup will go for gold in the 125s out of the IceOne awning.
"I'm looking forward to working with both Max and Thomas next year as well as with Conrad Mewse in the EMX series,” said Martens, the '93 world 500cc champion. "All are great riders and exciting to watch on the track. "Max is very experienced
and was one of the fastest riders in the final rounds of the 2015 GP series.
"We will work hard to carry that momentum into 2016 and help him achieve his goal of becoming a world champion.”
