British rider Max Anstie says he can't wait to race in the "iconic" surrounds of Villa Park when the FIM World Supercross British Grand Prix takes place this summer.
The opening round of the 2023 WSX World Championship will be held at the club's famous home, with the stadium transforming into the ultimate supercross battlefield for the first time in its long and illustrious history.
It promises to be an epic night of unmissable action and entertainment on Saturday, July 1, with high-octane racing, freestyle motocross stunts, pyrotechnics and more!
Tickets for the British Grand Prix are on sale now on Ticketmaster via the WSX Championship website, and Hospitality packages can be booked directly through Aston Villa.
For further details on hospitality, click here, call us on 08000 149346 or email wsxhospitality@avfc.co.uk.
WSX British Grand Prix at Villa Park
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Anstie will join the top riders from around the world in a battle to establish early dominance in the World Championship Series.
The British speedster professed his excitement ahead of the event in our Q&A with him...
How excited are you to be coming to and racing at Villa Park later this year?
"I’m so excited to come and race in Birmingham and at Villa Park. It’s going to be great to be in a proper football stadium and, though I’m not a Villa fan I do have friends that are, and it’s going to be fantastic to be racing somewhere so iconic. There’s a long history there and some amazing superstars have played there, so it’s only going to be good for our sport to come and hopefully add to the ground’s history. And, for me, it’s not far from home and from my friends and family, so it’s going to be a lot of fun and I’m excited to be coming to such a big UK city as part of the World Championship."
For those that don’t currently follow Supercross, it might seem a bit strange to have a sport where dirt bikes, and motocross bikes race around a stadium instead of an outdoor circuit. Do you prefer competing in stadiums to the more traditional motocross?
"I do, to be honest. I obviously grew up with motocross, my dad raced motocross, but a lot of the time you’re racing in a field in the middle of nowhere, with only the diehard fans a lot of the time. Supercross brings so much more. For us, as racers, it feels a lot more like the spotlights on you and you’re the stars of the show. Look at Villa Park and the Aston Villa players. They play there week-in and week-out, and they are the stars of the show. We’re going to be that in July."
You’re racing in the US currently, and are having a lot of success, but is there something special about coming back to the UK to race in front of a home crowd?
"There is, and it can give you a lift, but it can also add pressure. It kind of depends on the dynamic of your season and how things are going. Last year, at the first round in Cardiff, it was a lot; there was a lot going on with the media, with my friends, and family, and I really wanted to perform for them. I’m used to racing with a big crowd, which feels good, but being in the UK for the first World Supercross round it did add a bit more pressure because you want to do well and deliver for them. The other side of that is when it’s going well and you’re getting results, the home fans can really fire you up more. Having had a British GP last year, it’ll be different for me coming into Birmingham this year. I know what it feels like, I know what it takes to win. I’m also with the same team and on the same bike and we’re getting results in the States, so I want to come to the UK and stamp my authority on the World Supercross Championship."
You finished second in the world last year, is the aim is to win it this year?
"That’s definitely the plan. Anything can happen and the racing’s going to be close, and there are a lot of talented riders, but I’m in a great position with a great team, we’re having success over here in the US, I just need to be sharp for race time. But I’ve dreamed about being a world champion for years since I was a kid. And I think we’re in with a good chance."
Tickets for the WSX British Grand Prix at Villa Park are on sale now:
Hospitality packages can be booked directly through Aston Villa.
For further details, click here, call us on 08000 149346 or email wsxhospitality@avfc.co.uk.
