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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1221777
IN THE WIND P40 Short To Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team Y amaha announced its official Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team, which will include American Andrew Short and Dakar standout Ross Branch. Short, who switched to rally competition after retiring from professional motocross, is moving over from the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna squad. Short has been getting stronger ever since joining the off-road rally scene. He has since completed three Dakars, placed as runner-up in the 2019 Silk Way Rally and won the 2019 Rally du Maroc. Branch was one of the stand- out performers at the 2020 Dakar Rally. The 33-year-old from Botswana won the event's sec- ond stage, going on to challenge for further wins and take four more top-10 stage results, de- spite carrying an injury through- out the event. Competing in his first Dakar Rally in 2019, Ross completed the South American event 13th overall in the motorcycle class and as the event's highest- finishing rookie competitor. He also finished as runner-up in the Merzouga Rally and eighth in the Rally du Maroc in 2019. Short and Branch were set to make their competitive debut for the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Howev- er, with the opening event of the 2020 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship postponed due to the Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak, the new target is Rally Kazakhstan, which runs from May 24-29. "I am really excited to be join- ing the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team ahead of the 2020 FIM Rally World Champi- onship," 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 prepara- tion work done, and I can't wait to get it all started." "Joining the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team is a dream come true for me," said Branch. "To become a part of an official factory rally team is what I have been working hard to achieve over the last few years." Team Manager Alexandre Kowalski said: "They come from different continents and have very different riding back- grounds, but they both want to achieve more in rally and are full of energy and enthusiasm. We saw at this year's Dakar Rally that both riders were able to adapt to the event's terrain, which was hugely important. Together with the team's existing riders, we all look forward to working together and enjoying many great achieve- ments together." CN Andrew Short (right) has moved over to the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team. Ross Branch (left) is also joining the team.