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Jason Anderson’s 14th place result at Anaheim’s opening round of the 2019 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship became one of the biggest talking points of the week, however the defending champion silenced questions raised about his form by finishing runner-up at Saturday’s second round in Glendale.

Donning the number one plate aboard his Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing FC 450, Anderson believes added obligations heading into A1 attributed to a poor head space for the night show, although he’s satisfied to be in the mix again after leading a number of laps in the weekend’s encounter.

“I’ve been riding good during the week, but last weekend was just crazy and there was a lot of stuff going on,” Anderson explained. “Not only from obligations and stuff like that – I had a horrible heat race, and then they wanted to do the ring presentation for the championship. It was just a lot, and I wasn’t really in the right head place to be racing, to be honest.

“When I was leading I was trying my best and I felt like I was riding really good, but I felt Blake [Baggett] right there, and honestly, I don’t think I had the pace of when I was leading the first few laps. Sometimes you have a comfortable pace and you’re able to gap, but I wasn’t gapping Blake.

“He got up on me and I didn’t put up too much of a fight – second this weekend is so good compared to how last weekend went. I’m just happy to be up here again and be battling.”

Following the red-flag that resulted from Malcolm Stewart’s (Smarttop Bull Frog Spas MotoConcepts Honda) brutal crash, Anderson made a desperate move on Ken Roczen (Honda HRC) for the lead, taking control of the field before finishing second to Blake Baggett (Rocky Mountain ATV/MC KTM). The number one now sits seventh in the championship standings.