Page 48 - GRIT_73
P. 48
JOHN SHORT
250 SX / 8TH
IMAGE / KILPATRICK WORDS / PINTOR DESIGN / MOTOPLAYGROUND
>> Old man winter brought yet another blizzard to the midwest for round fourteen of Super- cross. Minneapolis, Minnesota hosted the third and nal triple crown event of the Monster Energy Supercross 2018 season. With over forty minutes of racing each rider has to make sure that their holeshots are on point and go wide open all night. From Pilot Point, Texas, John Short came to Minneapolis ready to tackle the last triple crown event. Short had his Tpj racing/Maxim Yamaha/Merge racing/Mcwhorter brothers Yamaha cycle revved up and ready to qualify for the main events. Starting the day off with a solid time a 53.959, Short would have a mid gate pick for the rst race. As the sun sets the 250 class takes their turns lining up on the gate. Short keeps his eyes locked on the gate as the thirty second board drops. The riders rocket off the line and Short gets sucked into mid pack. First corner and John still sits in the middle of all the riders. Williamson and another rider collide causing Short to slam on his brakes. The TPJ Racing rider gets stuck behind the pile up losing his momentum and track positions. Short gets stuck in the fourteenth spot trying to battle his way through other riders. Five minutes to go for main event number one and Short charges hard passing Cody Vanbuskirk and taking thirteenth. Not giving up and only two minutes to go Short makes a pass taking twelfth. Last lap and Short is gaining on Renzland. With only one second between him and Renzland John is pushing his bike to its limit. A rider goes down and Short gets into eleventh. Checkered ag ies and that ends the rst main event. It’s that time and the 250 class lines up for the second time of the night. Short gets the eleventh gate pick for race number two. Focused on his holeshot Short keeps his Yamaha revving ready to release his clutch at any second. The riders shoot off the line and Short is mid pack as they begin the rst section of the track. Holding his line and making his marks John makes a pass moving into tenth. Picking off two more riders on the last two laps Short steals eight place as the checkered ag is own ending race two. The nal event of the night for the 250 class is up and Short heads to the line. Amped up and ready to race John hops on his TPJ Racing Yamaha and locks eyes with the gate. The gate falls to the ground and Short shoots out like a rocket. Not able to place himself in the front of the pack Short gets 12th as they come around the rst corner. John makes two passes moving into tenth with only eight minutes to go. Short moves into seventh with only three minutes left on the clock. Final lap and Short gets an overall eighth place in Minneapolis.
48 GRITMOTO • APRIL 15, 2018