Monday Conversation: Andrew Short
Monday, April 23, 2012 | 10:20 AM
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In his sixth year in the SX Class, Andrew Short finally delivered his first career Monster Energy Supercross win after a great race in Seattle. But this win was made more shocking not by just the victory itself, but what proceeded it—Short has missed nearly two months of racing with a separated shoulder, and his L&Mc Racing team was struggling to stay alive after losing a title sponsor.
We talked to a very, very happy Short after the race.
Racer X: We’ve been waiting a long time to do the Andrew Short won a supercross Monday Conversation.
Andrew Short: Yeah it’s pretty unreal. It’s one of those nights where, I wouldn’t say I’m struggling, but its’ just my second race back from injury, and I haven’t been close to the podium. So to go from where I was to winning that quickly just makes it that much more special.
And you’ve gone through all kinds of weird stuff to get here. For example, last week you raced on your practice bike.
Yeah. And that makes it real sweet, too. There are a lot of people that believed in me and still supported me, even while I went through struggles with the injury, and the team went through its own struggles with support. Some people just dug deep and got me here and never quit. That’s what makes it really unique, and I’ll never forget what it means to be associated with these people.
Andrew Short celebrates his first career Supercross class win in Seattle.
Garth Milan photo
You mentioned before that this building has actually taken some things away from you, and I’m sure you’re talking about that Lites Championship years ago.
Yeah, in 2006, I came into this race with a great chance to win the Lites West Championship, and I had led the series in points since the first round and pretty much lost it right here at the end. I’ll never forget that night, too, sitting in the restaurant after the race and feeling like you almost just blew it. I’ve been there a few times here. In 2008 I was battling with Chad Reed and Kevin Windham for the lead here, and they were battling for the championship. I was close to winning that night and I fell apart at the end. Tonight I put it together. It’s something that is just…unreal.
Yeah do you even know what to say or do or anything right now?
No! And that’s what makes it so cool. This was so unexpected! And with this team, we’ve had so many ups and downs, we didn’t even know at one point if we were going racing, but Larry [Brooks] and Jeremy [McGrath] wouldn’t lay down. Other people would have packed their bags and given up, but those guys dug deep for me. And Honda’s support has been huge, too, we’re pitting out of their rig. We had people driving stuff up here from California in a van. It’s been a fiasco, but that’s just what we have been dealt with. Everyone works hard, and it pays off when something like this happens.
What’s also cool is you’re back on a Honda this year, and you had worked with the people on that team forever. It has to feel good to finally deliver a win for them, and vice versa.
Yeah exactly. You know, I’ve been racing at this level for 11 years now. And you look down from the podium and you see so many people you’ve worked with through those years. Even guys from KTM, like my old mechanic Frankie. People that I am so close with. That just makes it more special. All of these people in this paddock, you become really close with them, and they become part of your life. So to look down and see those people smiling…I keep having to go back to the word special, but it really is. It really is special! There are so many people that helped me along the way, first and foremost my family, and all of the people at home. From my trainer and friend Seiji, to my parents, my wife and my kids, there are so many people on so many levels that have to contribute to achieve something like this.
Short held off his friend, and former KTM teammate, Ken Roczen to secure the win in Seattle.
Garth Milan photo
Take me through the race. Did you get the holeshot or did you just kind of weave your way into it through those first few turns.
I don’t even know! But track position was huge tonight. I knew I had to get up front. You saw that in the heat race, where I started fourth and finished fourth. I knew if I could start up front that it would be game on. Then I saw Villo down and walking off the track. He’s the strongest guy, no doubt. So that was one more card that was dealt. I just kept pushing, and the laps counted down, and before you know it, it was a reality.
You had a battle with your buddy Kenny, there.
Yeah, yeah! Kenny is my buddy, we spent a lot of time working together last year at KTM. And it’s pretty funny, he kept telling me he wanted to show me what the 350 can do! We’re buddies, so he would keep telling me the 350 was great, and I’d tell him “Oh you need that Honda power, I’m on a 450!” and things like that. Just joking around as friends. So then we got to battle and that was fun. A lot of people are here that I got to share this with, my buddy Moser is here, and it goes on and on. Just a lot of people.
You mentioned that in some of these past races where you led, you fell apart at the end. Is there something you think you have learned or figured out or fixed that helped prevent that from happening this time?
Nope! I just think that in year’s past, I dug down deep, too, but on that night I wasn’t the best rider. You know, even tonight, there were times when you have to dig deep and just kind of grab yourself by the balls and go! But it’s hard when you haven’t been racing, and now you’re back in a stadium with all of these elements. The surroundings during a race like this, they can make your mind play tricks on you. But tonight, I was able to keep my vision open and my body relaxed. I did it and won, and I think from here on out it will make those situations easier to handle in the future.
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Congrats Shorty! Happy for him. Great guy....
Yea!!!! Shorty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You could see the difference between the 450 and the 350 every time they hit the straights! Shorty just pulled away.
Awesome dude, was so pumped to see him get that elusive first win! Well deserved, depleted field or not he hasn't exactly been handed any luck this year either.
Sometimes it is just your night, and this one was Shorty's. I'm very pleased to see his win, and to have watched it live, on TV. What ever happens to his career after this will be icing on the cake. Congrats Shorty from a long time fan.
Nice work, Andrew!
I agree - after all the bad luck he's had these last several seasons, a round of good luck needs to head this guy's way!
Short is such a great guy. The field really wasn't that depleted. The only contenders that were missing were Bubba and Reed. RV and Dungey were there when the gate dropped.
I'm so glad to see "Shorty" win of these things
After what this guy has been thru..
Took the wife"s advice and "Grabbed Some Sack And Went"!!!
And had her peeing her pants in the process too!
Way to go Shorty!!!!
Even if RV would not have went down he probably still would not have won. the track was way to one lined to pass that many guys and make up time. Short raced a great race and put himself in a great position off the start to race his own race with no mistakes.
Good job Shorty !
Shorty has got to be the heir apparent to K-Dub .. Who wasn’t happy to see the smiley faced assassin win his first !!!
Congrats to Andrew nice ride also big shout out to brandon the mechanic first win for him to I'm sure long time coming guys hopefully Brandon gets full time gig with the team
I fully agree 731Chopper..........I'm not into making excuses for anyone. You have to be healthy, show up, and finish the race to get a win. "Luck" isn't so much luck at their level. I was just preparing for someone to tear down his win like he didn't earn it.
***UNBELIEVABLE NEWS*** Andrew Short beats JGR's FACTORY $100,000 BIKE and FACTORY RIDER Millsaps on his PRACTICE BIKE!
***JGR NEWS*** JGR tries to steel Andrew Short from Honda for the nationals. Short said NO THANKS,my stock practice bike is WAY BETTER than your P.O.S. FACTORY bike!
***MORE JGR NEWS*** G. Faith DOES NOT QUALIFY for the main event in Seattle as soon as he switches from his $8,000 Honda to JGRs $100,000 Factory ride!
***G. FAITH INTERVIEW*** My season was going great until I started riding JGRs factory bike,my lawn mower is faster than their bike!
Congratulations Andrew. Push for number 2 next weekend!
It appears that Mr. No-show, sour grapes stewert is on this message board as Mr-Motocross.
You are relentless, Andrew Short. Kudos to you, Jeremy McGrath & Larry Brooks for not ever giving up. Your tenacity is as American as Apple Pie. Love to see a guy like you get the "W". So many fans whooped it up Saturday night when you crossed the finish line. Fantastic for you and you're family who have supported you always! Well deserved. Pull the trigger again next week. Hope this is momentum and fuel for you're Outdoor season too!
Good to see Andrew getting that win, he is always a class act. Watching Andrew and Kenny racing together was cool. Lets see if this momentum carries over and helps spark Andrews career. Good job Shorty!
@yamahaa- I think you have a point there. RX has an interveiw with Shorty and someone has always has to bring up the blue team and Hovac7.
Everyone seems to like Short. Except RC. If he was in the booth Saturday, I would like to have heard what he had to say during the 450 Main.
Very cool to see Roger D so happy for his former rider. That tells you all you need to know about the both of them! Class!!
This could possibly be the best moment of the 2012 Supercross season. The amount of time and work to arrive at this junction in Shorty's career is unthinkable. What a story. Never give up.
Who is next?
Didja know that Shorty once had a Pro Circuit ride and then it was swiped out from under his feet by Shae Bentley. I know what you're thinking, WHO? Dude quit a decade ago and Shorty is still a top pro. Congrats to the "long and the short of it.!!!!!
@czmark...The reason "the blue team" was brought up is because JGR tried to steal Short. Well Short is doing just fine on his Honda. Thank you and have a wonderful day:)
YOU DID IT, ANDY !!
@yamahaa & @czmark...you guys are not very "moto smart"
No Mr Motorcross..........we know the reason the blue team came up. Every chance you get to slag the YZ450F you take that opportunity to make it look like the root of your favorite rider's problems. I'd like to hear your spin on Faith and Wey's crash together being the bike's fault also since you brought that up.
@Retardcross...Do you like making fun of retarded people? Thats not nice. Shame on you!
Not all of them, just you and the other JS fans ;)
Is it possible to not be a fan of Short? I don't know if there has ever been a better feel good story for a SX win.
@Retardcross...Since you're a little slow i'll explaine my posts for you. They are about...Short,Honda which led to Faith,who was on a Honda...article is about Short on a Honda...JGR has approched both Short,Faith who are or were on Hondas. Do you understand now? Or are you mentally challenged?
Obviously, I understand that. Also, we all understand the real truth behind your constant digs at anything to do with the YZ450F. It's nothing to do with Short or Faith, and in fact started long before either of them had ever been mentioned in the same sentence as Yamaha as of late.
Again, enlighten us how the YZ450F put Faith and Wey on the ground as you had mentioned, then tell us how JS would dominate if he was on Suzuki. The real fans of the sport haven't heard enough excuses yet.
@Retardcross...Simple, The YZ450F is the heaviest bike out there,it constantly is crashing into other riders because it's hard to stop or controll. Now can we please get back to Short and Honda which this article is about?
I hope you don't reproduce, did you see my comments at the beginning of this thread congratulating Short? Have you read your comments and how you entered this conversation with your typical useless BS? Absolute f*ckin goof.....
@Retardcross....So you dont think thats huge news that Short beats an "elite"team on his practice bike last week and wins this week on his race bike with nowhere near the money or support that the "elite" team has. I think thats news worth pointing out and shows how good Short is.
Or how bad JGR is..
I'll shut up as soon as JGR produces results. Andrew Short 29 wasted no time in giving awesome results on his HONDA!
It's got nothing to do with equipment, not sure what you're getting at. Short put a great race together on a great bike I'm sure seeing how he is working with McGrath, Honda's poster boy tester, Millsaps is hot and cold and has looked good on his bike, and JS hasn't even been in the picture. Short's win has nothing to do with the JGR guys at all.
@Retardcross...you're right for once. Shorts win had nothing to do with the JGR guys at all because they were way back in 5th.
The reason JGR was brought up here is because Mr-Motorcross has some problem with them? The Yamaha? I think Mr-Motorcross was beat by a Yamaha one day and swore hatred on any team/rider that uses them....correct?
Mr-Motocross, Do you honestly believe that James Stewarts poor supercross season is a direct result of riding the Yam 450f ? If the bike is that bad why did he ride it again after last year? Maybe the lure of money & a drive in a car, not the reasons for a very talanted past champ & self proclaimed " fastest man on the planet". I think he has rested on his laurels to much , hyped him self up to much & simply is not as hungry as he was. David Milsaps has done no more or less than he usualy does.
James needs to shut up & put up,
@Mr. Motocross "Since you're a little slow i'll explaine my posts for you". Better learn to spell before you "explain" anything.
I thawt Retardcross wood katch that!
I got em all fired up today:)
Well done !!!!
Thank you all for reading my posts and wasting your day on me,it means a lot. My work is done here. See you on the next post. Until then have a wonderful day:)
Congrad's Short we are happy for you !! That was a good fight that you didn't give up, may the taste of victory stay with you.
mr motocross, I find it interesting that the Yz450 has as more wins than honda 450's this year and there are 3 times more Hondas racing. I also find that Milsaps has scored more than any rmz, crf, and ktm. Those bikes are pos according to you.
Simple things please simple minds !
big congrats to Mr. Short!! well deserved.
If you want to make it about the bike, then why would anyone race anything other that the KXF right now.
Since I am pretty darned sure the rider has more to do wiith it than the bike, kind of a moot point. The bikes these top guys are on are very well set up.
That's "Whit" more. Or are you just another racist creep on here?
@MrMotocross & Retardcross
Way to sh!t all over Shorts Monday conversation thead with your selfish bickering. Neither of you have any respect for Short or this sport.
Congrats Shorty!! Long time coming and well deserved man.
@Tigole you are a total DOUCHBAG! I love getting attention from a douchbag like yourself. You're soooo serious that I can't stop laughing. You made my day and all the arm pump from typing worth it. You have no sense of humor. I'm sure Andrew Short thinks you're a douchbag too!
Great ride...
Keep it up Shortie!