by Steve Dye
450 Words: High Point
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PrintYou know someone's season isn't going well when they are thanking "all the doctors back home" from the podium while also using terms like "lucky to be alive."
On the other hand, you put Mike Alessi aboard a carburetored 450 and you got yourself a holeshot.
If Mike Alessi's pre- and post-race interviews seemed slightly less than rife with confidence -- imminently understandable given his return from the brutal Hangtown practice crash where he suffered yet another in a string of concussions -- his starts were more an indication of steely resolve to once again run at the front of the pack.
Alessi made his return at High Point after being sidelined for the first two rounds with a concussion.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Consider, even, the start of day: After almost three weeks of waiting for the stars in his head to clear, Alessi not only made a game-day decision to ride, he was the first rider to come around in the day's opening A practice. He'd wind up third fastest on the timing sheets for the first session, and fourth in the second.
In the first moto, the 800 bike ripped such a start that it ripped the starting gate right apart. Alessi was 15 feet out of the gate with the gate still in front of him -- yet he somehow came out of the first corner in third and held that position throughout the race to put it on the box... only to be docked a spot for the aforementioned damage to Mt. Morris property. Alessi would be scored fourth.
Then he ripped another runner in the second race and went on a flyer -- gapping the field in unknown conditions through standing water that hid holes and ruts from the first round of motos. Alessi's opening laps were three or more seconds faster than the competition, building a massive lead he would surrender only after colliding with a lapped rider in a slippery, deeply rutted hook turn at the top of the course. He remounted still in first, barely, but quickly succumbed to the charge of Chad Reed. Whereas a penalty would keep him off the box in the first race, the charging rival Ryans, Villopoto and Dungey, would do the same in the closing laps.
Alessi lead the majority of the second moto before crashing late and giving the lead to Chad Reed.
Photo: Simon Cudby
Good starts aside, Alessi spent the day entrenched at or near the top of the leader board. The only riders to finish ahead of him (on the track) were the top three in the points race, Reed, Villopoto, and Dungey. Those are big shoes on the podium, and Alessi still wants to fill them.
For the first two rounds Alessi's outdoor season was a non-starter. Now, the starter is back.
You can reach Steve Dye at steve_dye_121@yaho[email protected]
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holeshot!!!!!!!! NOT!
The more riders in contention for the win, the better for all of us!!!!! Go Mike!
Mike Alessi gets way too much attention
Jlaw got black flagged in hangtown for jumping the gate why did allessi get docked one spot for ripping the gate off??????
Diggin' the Steve Dye stuff, keep 'em coming
One moto at a time Mikey !
D
Man! They keep showing his crash and it just looks like he could have saved it!! He certainly would have landed on the front wheel, but with a little panic rev could have helped.
On a 450 he is another rider, he can fight for a step on the podium every Saturday. The 350 is not good in the USA and, this year, also in Europe does not look good.
Jlaw went around the gate.... didnt even use the start straight as i rcall... he almost missed his gate.... then once he gets to the gate.. its dropping... so he decides hes going to just ride on the outside of the start and flowinto the field... IN THE FRONT.
Jlaw who?
I was there and MA was flying for sure. He's making the 350 look bad though.
Mike Alessi is on steroids!! hence the fat neck & Arnold like jawbone
Hey, this Steve Dye guy can write. Good column!
not quite chadley75....J-Law straight jumped the gate. then he pulled over to the right and let the field go by. watch this
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v337/thrashedkid03/JLAWIZZ.gif
Would be curious to know what the issue was with the lapper at High Point....was a blue flag shown to him before Alessi got there? Did the lapper respond properly? What happened there?
Tough kid. He isn't pussing out because he's mad about his bike set up or he isn't "mentally" prepared like some other riders across the pond.
Will be great when Canard comes back too so we could see 5 guys that can win motos battling................
The guy has the potential to be the best motocross (ie. outdoor) rider in the world on any given weekend. He is very inconsistent, but very very talented and fast. I am glad he is not on that 350. KTM should put Short on a 450 too and if not then put him on the 250 two stroke because it is a way better bike than the 350.
All of us fans/riders benefit from a healthy Mike Alessi. He is a guy that can run up front. Three years ago he was the only guy outdoors that could at least make Stewart work for a win. That was a brutal crash. I hope Alessi stays in it and makes each race interesting.
Though I am a Honda guy, the KTM is pretty sick looking. I commend KTM for thinking "outside the box" with the 350. Whether it works or was a failure, you get nothing without innovation and effort. The 350 might not work for pros but it certainly is gaining popularily in the Vet classes (i.e. a large segment of the buying public).
Wouldn't it just be easier and cheaper to make the 450SX slow and uncompetitive than spend a fortune trying to make the 350SX faster?
At least a slow 450SX wont grenade under Short every moto
Like R.Carmichael said "I'm not convinced" when it comes to the 350. Glad Mike Alessi is on the 450, but im hoping to see him kick butt like he did on first few rounds while with suzuki.
@Maurice-Reno-NV ... Honda has had more DNF's than KTM the last 2 years I think. Short had at least 2 last year outdoors that I can remember and K-Dub had 2 this year already outdoors and 1 in SX I believe!!
EVERY ONE LEAVE THE LAPPERS ALONE! Alessi is talented enough to find his way around them. HE JUST MADE A CRITICAL MISTAKE!!! No where in the ama rule book does it say that a rider shown the blue and white flag MUST move to the edges of the track. Just another bone headed move from a talented rider, thats all.
Alessi is on steroids. I agree no doubt just look at his arms and his neck. He has pimples from roids.
Who cares if Alessi is on steroids.Ya'll are just trying to get something started like that Armstong deal.If the AMA doesn't test for it then its a moot point.If he is then more power to him.
Everyone check out this site and spread the word, also if your on twitter, follow @RelentlessMoto
quit making stupid a$$ accusations about the guy! He's a hard worker!!! I'm 47 and have a fuggen zit on my nose!! idiots!!!
Wow, my I.Q. dropped 1 point just from reading the comments. There is little doubt in my mind that Alessi is taking many supplements, but to suggest he is on steroids without any actual knowledge is ridiculous. It's common knowledge that Mike trains extremely hard and when uninjured is one of the fittest guys on the track.
Townley left Europe for NEw Zealand after another injury. Kawa CLS is in talk with Pourcel for a possible replacement.
Regarding KTM, just Stewart could win a title on the 350 in the USA, but he will sweat a lot for it. Here in Europe Nagl has been struggling on it and he was very fast on the 450 till last year. Only Tony can go fast but this year he has been fighting injuries (knee and now right hand) and it won't be easy.
Do you really think steroids would help?
...don't know much about the benefits of testosterone, do we? LoL
Yep, re the 350, for the pittance of pounds that the 350 saves in wght, KTM could put some Ti and Mg parts on the 450, and Joe Public would still be ahead; spend the $$ for the trick parts vs. spending it on six-packs of valves for the 350....personally, if I wanted one of these chick-bikes, I would ride a punched 250sxf waaay b4 I would spend the $$$ for the stinkin' 350.
Hey, KTM: A 350 4T is NOT the same niche bike that a your 300 2T is: 300 2T is a truly niche bike; "best"-of-both-worlds engine/bike.
The 350 4T is a "worst" of both worlds package! LoL