Andrew Short is a legend in the making. In 2008, after finishing third overall in his first full Supercross season in the premier 450 class, he repeated that result in the outdoor Motocross championship, finishing third for the second-consecutive season.
“I think the highlight of 2008 was finishing where I did in the points,” said Short. “ I think that was a great achievement for me. It showed how consistent I was. I never really had a standout ride where I was really great at just one race and really stood out, so I think the biggest achievement for last year was finishing third in the points, especially in Supercross. It was really hard-fought for me.”
Equally impressive is the fact that Short made it through the entire 2008 season virtually unscathed—not missing a single race in either championship. Yet the humble Short seems to take it all in stride.
“I think luck has something to do with it—with any racing—and what we do is obviously a dangerous sport, but it’s in a controlled atmosphere. I try to stay as healthy as possible off the bike by exercising and working out, so if I do crash and get hurt, I can recoup quicker and recover a little faster because my body is so healthy.”
Short’s no-nonsense, nose-to-the-grindstone approach has catapulted him to the top of his sport. But he’s quick not to count his podium visits before they materialize.
“I think in racing you’re only as good as your last race. I don’t necessarily want to think that I have ‘made it’ or ‘I’ve arrived,’ I guess. I think that’s the drive and competitiveness of any athlete. I try to keep that mentality, always striving to get better and better because I still haven’t reached the top and that’s my goal. I think one day when I get done racing I will look back and reflect on what I have accomplished, but until then, I’m just trying to keep my head down and achieve what I can achieve.”
This season, Short is piloting the completely redesigned CRF®450R, something he feels represents the perfect rider/bike matchup.
“It feels more like a 250F in terms of handling and the way it corners, which I believe is a big benefit compared to last year’s bike. The power is a lot more linear and it makes it smoother. I can’t wait to line up on the start line at Anaheim for the first time. I can’t wait to see how much better the bike really is.”
With last year’s rider lineup intact for 2009, Short sees the merit in team continuity.
“I think that shows we had a great team in 2008. We had great people, great bikes and a great program. That’s something that you just can’t buy—all the experience we gained last year. I think it shows that we’re going to be a really good team because of that, and because of the great partnership between Honda and Red Bull.”