29 Andrew Short

Widely regarded as one of the most physically fit riders on the pro circuit, Honda Red Bull Racing’s Andrew Short has had to work to achieve his factory status. Short turned pro in 2000, and by 2001 he had earned a ride with the Motoworld Racing Suzuki support team. The first three years of his pro career were definitely not his best; however, the hard worker from Colorado started earning top-twenty results, and in 2002 achieved twelfth overall in the West Coast Supercross Lites class, and fifteenth overall in the MX Lites class.

For the 2003 season, Short returned with the Motoworld squad and finally put together a standout season. Once again, he contested the West Coast Lites Supercross series, and earned third overall in the title hunt, with two podiums, and a win in the East/West Las Vegas Shootout. Short had now solidified himself as a title threat in the Supercross series. However, he had yet to do so in the outdoors. His 2003 campaign was his best to date, and he narrowly missed a top ten overall, earning eleventh overall with a best finish of fourth.

The year 2004 was a tough one for Short, as he was only able to place in the top five three times for the Supercross season, where he would finish a respectable seventh in the West Coast series. The outdoors were also tough for him, as he was forced to run a limited schedule that would relegate him to thirty-fourth in the final standings.

However, the 2005 season was a huge turnaround for the new Factory Honda rider. “Shorty” took his new ride to third place overall in the West Coast Lites Supercross series where along the way he won the Houston, Texas round, and achieved four podiums. He also won the pre-season Bercy Supercross, further boasting his new title drive. The outdoor season was no disappointment either, as Short won the Millville, Minnesota, round and took five podiums to earn second overall.

The following year was Short’s best season to date. The Factory Honda pilot battled all season long with his teammate Davi Millsaps in the West Coast Lites series. Short would take wins at the Anaheim and San Diego rounds, and would also win the East/West Lites Shootout for the second time in his career. However, he would fall short of a title by one spot, as he finished out the season in the second spot. In the outdoors, he took two wins, one at the sandy Southwick course, and the other in Washougal, Washington. Two more podiums saw Short claim fourth in the championship standings.

Throughout his career, Short has stepped up to dabble in the premier class, riding the 450 class several times on limited schedules. This experience would pay off in 2007, as he made the jump into the upper class. He had a tough season in Supercross, where he raced a limited schedule due to injury, but the outdoor series was much more successful. With the dominant James Stewart out, the title was anyone’s game, and Short made a terrific run. He earned four podiums on his way to finishing third in the final standings.

The 2008 supercross season once again saw Short add a string of podiums to his resume, and the Honda rider finished third in the title chase, coming just short of a rejuvenated Kevin Windham and a confident Chad Reed. John Leonard