DIRT NEWS
SHORT AND BRANCH JOIN MONSTER ENERGY
YAMAHA
T
he Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official
Team has announced a strengthened rider
line-up for the 2020 FIM Cross-Country
Rallies World Championship, with Andrew Short
and Ross Branch officially joining the squad.
Both racers showed impressive pace and the
ability to overcome adversity at this year’s Dakar
Rally and look set to become key members of
the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team.
Andrew Short is one of the world’s most
versatile and successful off-road motorcycle
racers. A hugely experienced US supercross
and motocross competitor, with close to 40
career podium results to his credit, he was also
a winning member of the USA’s 2010 Motocross
of Nations team.
Calling time on his 16-year supercross and
motocross career, the Texas native switched
94 KIWI RIDER
to cross- country rally racing at the end of
2017. Competing in his first Dakar Rally in 2018,
Andrew has since completed three Dakars,
placed as runner-up in the 2019 Silk Way Rally
and won the 2019 Rally du Maroc.
“I am really excited to be joining the Monster
Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team ahead of the
2020 FIM Rally World Championship, Short said.
“I’m looking forward to working with a new
group of people and a brand that has enjoyed a
lot of success in rally in the past. I know everyone
in the team will be pushing me to improve and
get better results. My main goal is Dakar 2021,
but between now and then we hope to get a lot
of racing and preparation work done, and I can’t
wait to get it all started.”
Ross Branch was one of the stand-out
performers at the 2020 Dakar Rally.