Red Bull/KTM Supercross Class Race Report

January 10, 2011, 4:10pm

Anaheim, CA – Red Bull KTM Factory Team rider Andrew Short earned a decent score at the opening round of the AMA Supercross Series with a 10^th place result. His teammate, Mike Alessi finished a few positions back in 14^th. However, the most impressive part of the night will be awarded to the KTM 350 SX-F which debuted in it’s first-ever AMA Supercross competition with both factory riders easily qualifying into the main.

Consistency was the word of the day for Short as he qualified 10^th fastest in both of his timed practice sessions and ended his evening with a 10^th place result in the main.

Both Short and Alessi were placed into the second heat of the SX class. Short started 7^th around the first corner with Alessi back in 11^th. Short maintained his pace throughout the eight lap heat and remained in 7^th to easily qualify into the main event. Alessi picked up his pace in order to secure a few more spots working toward the 9^th place final qualifying spot. That spot happened to be held by his brother Jeff Alessi. After following his brother for a few laps Alessi was able to make the pass for the final transfer spot on the last lap. “I had to make an aggressive pass on my brother to get into the main event, but that’s part of racing,” remarked Alessi.

When the gate dropped for the main event it was Alessi up front early. Alessi rounded the first turn in 3^rd position. Short did not have as good of a jump but still managed a top ten start rounding the first turn in 9^th place. After a few battles within the first lap Alessi had dropped back to 7^th and Short to 10^th. “I didn’t have the pace of the top few guys tonight and I fell back quite a few positions from my good start,” stated Alessi.

Mike Alessi

Alessi continued to hold off hard-charging riders for the first half of the race before he fell further off the pace. “I need to work on my fitness and prepare myself for longer races. I just returned from Australia where we were racing 5 to 6 lap mains and my conditioning is not where it needs to be to run inside the top ten.” Alessi eventually finished 14^th overall.

Short dropped as low as 12^th early in the race after a few mistakes but kept it together and continued to charge forward. On the fourth lap, Short passed his teammate Alessi to regain 10^th and began to look ahead. He spent the remaining laps of the race closing in on the 9^th place ride of Josh Grant but was unable to gain the position before the checkered flag.

“I struggled tonight. I felt off earlier in the day and wasn’t able to get to a point where I was riding where I knew I could. I am just glad to get the first round out of the way and am looking forward to an improved result in Phoenix,” recapped Short.

Next Race: Phoenix Supercross – January 15, 2011

Overall Results