Bench Racing Ammo: Short Success

Andrew got his first win of the 2005 season at the Houston Supercross photo: TFS

Another year is quickly coming to a close as another Paris-Bercy supercross is etched into the record books—the 22nd running of this celebrated event.

And while most American fans are still reveling in the astonishing 2005 season recorded by Ricky Carmichael in the 250 class and Ivan Tedesco in the 125 division, let’s not forget another very impressive achievement that was capped off this weekend in Paris.

For the second year in a row, Team Honda’s Andrew Short dominated the Bercy SX, sweeping all three main events. That put his name among riders like Rick Johnson, Johnny O’Mara, Jean-Michel Bayle, and Jeremy McGrath as multi-time winners of this race. So while RC and Ivan both have their “triple crowns” of winning the MX, SX, and des Nations championships (plus Ricky’s World Supercross and U.S. Open victories), let’s look at Shorty’s scaled-down triple crown in 2005.

It took nine races for Andrew to get his first outdoor national win at Millville photo: Simon Cudby

After winning the ‘04 Paris-Bercy Supercross—his first major race for Team Honda—many thought 2005 would be Short’s year. But seven races into the 125cc West Region Supercross Series, he was sitting third in points and winless as far as individual races go. It wasn’t until the last-round Houston Supercross that it all came together for Andrew, as he led every lap and survived a dramatic last-lap battle with Broc Hepler to take his first win of the ‘05 season.

And it wouldn’t be his last. The AMA outdoor national season rolled around, and although it took nine races and 18 motos, Short finally got that first 125 National Motocross victory under his belt with an awesome 1-1 performance at the brutally rough Spring Creek MX Park in Millville, Minnesota, on August 14.

After all was said and done, Short finished third overall in supercross and second overall in the 125 Nationals and had a win in AMA Motocross, AMA Supercross, and this past weekend’s Paris-Bercy SX. Not too bad for his first year as a factory rider with Team Honda.