Source: Supplied.

Retired American motocross racer Andrew Short will make a return to competition after the joining the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Rally team with immediate effect.

Turning a new page in his illustrious career, the longtime factory rider is set to pilot Husqvarna’s FR 450 Rally machine throughout the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

“I’m really excited to be part of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna,” Short said. “It’s an awesome opportunity to take a new step forward in my career as a racer. Rally racing is something I’ve always been interested in. I love riding and racing and to me it seems like rally is the ultimate adventure you can have on a dirt bike.

“After retiring as a pro motocross racer at the end of 2016 I started riding my bike in the mountains of Colorado and fell in love with it. I took some navigation training lessons and then had a blast at the Sonora Rally. The biggest challenge for me now is to get some more experience and improve my skills in navigation and that’s exactly what I’ll be focusing on this week in Morocco.”

Short wrapped up his 16-year-long career as a professional motocross and supercross racer with a total of nine wins and 49 podium results. The Colorado native has finished among the top three in the AMA Pro Motocross championship no fewer than five times.

Short possesses a wealth of experience as an official test and development rider, an activity that the American focused on with Honda after announcing his retirement from professional motocross competition at the end of the 2016 season.

Never ceasing his active involvement with off-road riding, Short took the decision to switch to rally racing having taken part at this year’s Sonora Rally, round one of the 2017 Dakar Challenge. Enjoying an impressive first outing the highly-experienced racer wrapped up the four-stage event by claiming third overall in Mexico.

Short is set to make his racing debut aboard the Husqvarna FR 450 Rally machine at the 2017 OiLibya Morocco Rally on 4-10 October. Looking to gain more experience in navigation and demanding rally stages, he is expected to be a strong asset for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team for the upcoming Dakar Rally in January.