Cracking the top five in supercross at the highest level of the sport is no easy feat. The talent runs deep. Even qualifying for a main is tough as many top riders have experienced so far this season in the Monster Energy AMA supercross series. Privateer UNIT rider Austin Politelli has been chasing a top five finish in the 250 class since A1 kicked off January 5. He’s showed he’s had the speed in bursts, ran high in his qualifiers, found himself at the wrong place at the wrong time more often than he liked, but then something clicked for Politelli at last weekend’s San Diego round where he broke through for his first top five finish of the season, a result the 18-year-old is more than stoked with.
We caught up with Austin Politelli to chat about his result, his season so far, and what he thinks he needs to do to consistently finish in that top five!
Austin Politelli, congrats on your fourth place finish at San Diego last weekend, you finally cracked the top five: Yeah thanks, I really wanted to get a good finish before the break. I’ve been pissed off for not making that top five so now I’ve done it I’m real happy.
Has your goal been the same from Anaheim 1 to San Diego: Yeah it has, but I just had bad luck at A1 in the main getting caught up in the first turn pile up. I felt good there after finishing fourth in my heat race, but I just have to learn to stay out of trouble. I’ve found myself in similar situations at other rounds too, but getting the fourth at San Diego gives me confidence to get the job done again.
Politelli has been studying Eli Tomac's corner speed and intensity at races, he know's where he needs to improve. Photo: Ryne Swanberg.
Where do you see yourself compared to your competition on the West Coast: I feel I’m definitely improving and my speed is top five right now, I just need to get my starts dialled consistently and get used to running the pace with those top guys. I’ll be good to go at Seattle after some solid training in the break. My aim is to reach the podium.
What is your weekly routine while the race season is in full swing, and how will that change going into the break: I usually ride three times a week and spend the same amount of time with my trainer on my road bike, nothing too gnarly during race season, but I think now I have eight weeks off I’ll step my program up a little.
Will you start testing outdoors in the break: My focus will be riding supercross as I don’t have anything lined up outdoors as yet. I’ll just go with the flow with that.
Nailing his starts will help Politelli start and stay with the top five from the get go. Photo: Ryne Swanberg.
Last year was your rookie year, what have you learned coming into your second year: I did East Coast last year on my own with my Dad and I learned a lot from that season coming into this one, like mainly what to expect speed wise. This year is my first time riding the West Coast tracks so there’s been a lot to learn on that front, but no real big surprises really.
Has the speed from any of the riders surprised you: Going into A1 I knew Tomac, Rozcen and Seely would be fast so I learned a lot from watching them, things like picking up my corner speed, staying lower off jumps, nothing too big, but a rider like Tomac just has this intensity and really charges the whole entire race and attacks every section of the track, and that’s something I’m focusing on when it comes to improving my game.
Do you spend much time watching re-plays of the races: Yeah I try to watch as much as I can on TV as I don’t have anyone personally filming me at the races. I also watch the 450 class as I learn quite a bit from those guys.
UNIT is proud to have Austin Politelli part of the family! Photo: Ryne Swanberg.
Are you happy with the way the season has gone so far considering you’re a privateer: Yeah I’m pretty happy although I wish I could have started off stronger and missed out on the bad starts that have always left me in a bad position to work from. It was awesome to finish in the top five at San Diego as that’s what I’ve been working towards all season, especially as a privateer! Hopefully some of the bigger teams will see that and give me a shot for Outdoors or next season in supercross. That would be nice.
You’re 18 now and out on your own, how’s that move going: Yeah good, the plan is I want to start doing more stuff on my own, grow up and break away a little, and show people and teams that I can get the job done by myself. It’s a positive move for sure.
Thanks for chatting Austin, and good luck for the season ahead mate, any shoutouts: Yeah thanks, I’m looking forward to kicking it back off when the West series comes back to Seattle, I’ll be ready! I wouldn’t be able to do it without the support from UNIT, Todd Hanson at HRT for giving me the opportunity to ride for his team, AXO, A-Stars, X Brand goggles, my trainer Rob, my suspension tuner Graeme Brough, Scrappy at Dynamic Interfactory , my girlfriend , and not forgetting my Mum and Dad.
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