Red Bull/KTM Factory Team rider Andrew Short made the best of what could have been a disastrous weekend with a come from behind climb through the pack to earn 7th overall at the twelfth round of the AMA Supercross Series in Toronto, Canada.
Short had unfortunate luck in his heat when he suffered a mechanical problem and was forced to withdraw from the race and head to the last chance qualifier. His teammate, Mike Alessi came from a bad start in the same heat to move into the final qualifying position to earn a spot on the main event gate.
“I was nervous heading to the LCQ because I haven’t been to one since 2008,” commented Short. “But it went well and I got a good start from the outside, made some safe passes to move into the lead and took the win to get my Red Bull/KTM into the main event.”
Both Red Bull/KTM Team riders earned phenomenal starts last weekend and were hoping to do the same at the start of the Toronto race but luck wouldn’t have it. Short had to move in from the way outside and got pushed off the track just as he was cutting inside while Alessi missed the turn and had some issues of his own. Both riders got their momentum back and hurried to regain positions. Alessi was marked down a lap as a result of the first turn mishap while Short started the first lap in 17th and crossed the finish line jump of the same lap three spots forward in 14th. Unfortunately, a few laps into the race Alessi encountered another set back when he suffered a mechanical problem and did not finish the race. Short continued to solider on for the team and moved his KTM 350 SX-F quickly through the pack.
The majority of Short’s passes were made in the first few laps. He began the race at the tail end of a seven rider train and had moved quickly by the riders and into a top ten position by the halfway point. Sticking close by was Kevin Windham who plowed through the bottom half of the riders with Short until it was just the two of them battling for what was now 7th position. Short led their battle through the laps and eventually pulled Windham on the final laps of the race to secure the position.
“I am pretty happy with my ride tonight. Whenever you have a bad start you never know how bad the race can turn out. I am really happy that I moved up inside the top ten and was able to salvage some much needed points,” stated Short after the race.
The riders will return home for the week before heading back to Short’s home state ofTexas for the thirteenth round next weekend at the Cowboy Stadium in Dallas.
Overall Results SX Class –
1) Ryan Dungey
2) Chad Reed
3) Trey Canard
4) James Stewart
5) Justin Brayton
6) Nick Wey
7) Andrew Short – KTM
8) Kevin Windham
9) Ryan Villopoto
10) Cole Seely
11) Davi Millsaps
12) Weston Peick
13) Fabien Izoird
14) Michael Byrne
15) Tye Simmonds – KTM
16) Matt Boni
17) Chris Blose
18) Ivan Tedesco
19) Austin Stroupe
20) Mike Alessi – KTM
Overall Point Standings SX Class –
1) Chad Reed – 236
2) Ryan Villopoto – 233
3) Ryan Dungey – 228
4) James Stewart – 216
5) Trey Canard – 214
6) Andrew Short – 159
7) Justin Brayton – 137
8) Kevin Windham – 134
9) Davi Millsaps – 128
10) Nick Wey – 109
