Red Bull/KTM Factory Team Race Report – Supercross Class

Debut of KTM 350 SX-F in Supercross

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 10th place
result. His teammate, Mike Alessi finished a few positions back in
14th. 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 10th fastest in both
of his timed practice sessions and ended his evening with a 10th place
result in the main.

Both Short and Alessi were placed
into the second heat of the SX class. Short started 7th around the
first corner with Alessi back in 11th. Short maintained his pace
throughout the eight lap heat and remained in 7th to easily qualify
into the main event. Alessi picked up his pace in order to secure a few
more spots working toward the 9th 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
3rd position. Short did not have as good of a jump but still managed a
top ten start rounding the first turn in 9th place. After a few battles
within the first lap Alessi had dropped back to 7th and Short to 10th.
“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.

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
14th overall.

Short dropped as low as 12th 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
10th and began to look ahead. He spent the remaining laps of the race
closing in on the 9th 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