That may have had a small effect on him only recently, as he started to lose to her, since he could see how far she had come in such a short time.
When someone stood out in such a way for improving each of their efforts, it had an effect on others around them to make them wish to work just as hard.
Max was not a slacker when it came to trying to improve himself, but he had learned from Ash that he could do much more than what he was already doing.
Ash may have possessed talent, but talent alone would not let her improve at such a high speed.
A lot of work needed to be put in to attain what she had within a short time, even if she did possess a lot of talent.
Since he had lost a couple of times in a row, he was motivated even more to improve himself, since he was the one who was currently being left behind by Ash, who was previously very far behind him.
