2011 AMA Supercross
Factory Red Bull/KTM riders Andrew Short and Mike Alessi put in impressive rides at the 11th round of the AMA Supercross Series held in Jacksonville, Fla., Saturday evening with a fifth place performance by Short and a seventh place result for Alessi.
Both Red Bull/KTM riders had excellent heat races with both KTM 350 SX-F machines taking the holeshot in their heats. The #800 KTM Supercross machine of Mike Alessi was up first in heat number one. He nailed the holeshot and took the early lead.
He continued to lead for the first half of the Supercross race before he was passed on lap five.
Mike Alessi (KTM Supercross) says: "I began to get arm pump on the fifth lap and fell off the pace a little bit. I was still happy to run up front for the time that I did and to finish 5th overall in the heat."
Andrew Short followed Alessi's start strategy and grabbed the holeshot in his Supercross heat. He led James Stewart (San Manuel Yamaha) briefly on the first lap before dropping to second position. Short and Reed battled on the next two laps before Reed made the pass and Short settled into third. Once in third, Short hung tight to the spot and finished in that position to take a nice qualifying spot into the main event.
In the main event, Alessi duplicated his heat race start and pulled the holeshot around the first corner. Short was a few spots back in sixth position. On the first lap, Alessi and Davi Millsaps came together and allowed Short to pass into fourth.
Short remained in fourth through the first half of the race before Kevin Windham (GEICO Honda) made a pass on the 10th lap. Aboard the KTM, Short was able to ride a consistent race through the remaining laps to finish fifth overall marking his sixth top five finish this season.
Meanwhile, Alessi spent the majority of the race in 8th position before closing in on Austin Stroupe with a few laps remaining. With one lap to go, Alessi was all over Stroupe. On the final corner he cut underneath Stroupe and made the pass just in time to cross the finish. That pass moved Alessi up to seventh for the night marking his season best finish aboard the KTM.
Next Event: Toronto Supercross – March 26, 2011
Overall Jacksonville Results Supercross Class –
1) Trey Canard
2) Chad Reed
3) Ryan Dungey
4) Kevin Windham
5) Andrew Short – KTM
6) Ivan Tedesco
7) Mike Alessi – KTM
8) Austin Stroupe
9) Nick Wey
10) Chris Blose
11) Fabien Izoird
12) Michael Byrne
13) Jason Thomas
14) Jarrod Browne
15) Cole Seely
16) Kyle Partridge
17) Davi Millsaps
18) Matt Goerke
19) Weston Peick
20) James Stewart
Overall Point Standings Supercross Class –
1) Ryan Villopoto – 221
2) Chad Reed – 214
3) Ryan Dungey – 203
4) James Stewart – 198
5) Trey Canard – 194
6) Andrew Short – 145
7) Justin Brayton – 121
8) Kevin Windham – 121
9) Davi Millsaps – 118
10) Brett Metcalfe – 107
