Racer X Outstanding Performance: Mike Alessi
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 | 4:00 PM
Share
Comment
Email
Print
The points standings said three riders were battling for the second-place position. Everyone else knew otherwise.
The real story coming into High Point wasn’t that one point separated Jake Weimer, James Stewart and Mike Alessi, it was if Stewart would be healthy enough to challenge Ryan Dungey for a win. Turns out he was not, and so, it was left to someone else, anyone, to battle the Dunge.
The rider who stepped up most was Alessi. After two strong performances to start his 2012 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship season, Mike found himself off the podium last weekend in Colorado. This weekend, at a track that has delivered highs—Mike’s first-ever national win came at High Point in 2005—and lows—he also crashed and ended his 2009 450 title bid here—he pulled through to lead laps and move up to second in the standings.
Mike Alessi captured his third overall podium through four rounds at High Point.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
“Ryan is riding good, that’s about all you can say,” said Alessi. “I tried!”
He had a little extra motivation since his mechanic, Chris “C-Lo” Loredo had chosen to stay back and wrench for Mike even though his wife Holly was giving birth to their first baby on Saturday morning. “For him to be here, words can’t describe it. I just can’t thank him enough for being here, and thanks to his wife Holly for letting him be here. He told me this morning that he expected nothing less than a 1-1, and I tried my hardest.”
Mike certainly did, and even though his efforts only resulted in 2-2 scores and second overall, it was a big enough effort to net him this week’s Racer X Outstanding Performance Award.
Alessi's 2-2 moto scores marked a season-high for the MotoConcepts rider.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
Did you like this article?
Check out TEAM HONDA AT DAWN
in our Latest issue of Racer X available now.
Forty years ago, Team Honda arrived on the American motocross circuit with a brand new motorcycle: the game-changing Elsinore CR250. Page 170.
Look for the verified symbol 
Impulse Studios
Whatever! If everyone was racing he would be a top 10'r ...he would be LUCKY to get a top 5!
He's a road block for a few laps at best
Hey guys, he's trying his best, and I'm sure it is alot better than your best. Why do you come on here to be-little someone who is trying their best??? Stop the hating and appreciate what these racers do, and how fast they really are.
Hey Mike....keep up the solid performances and get through the season as you say you will. Second overall is nothing to complain about considering it is the Dungenator who will take the title. Don't listen to the wannabe's who go through their pathetic lives badmouthing those who can....as they only wish they could.
I love all the 800 haters. My buddy gives me grief all the time. If he is consistent 5 may get hurt and the title is his. He now has the confidence that he can run with the Dung so watch out. He will be on the top step of the box within the next three rounds.
I wonder how many of you guys would EVER even look at a bike again after going thru a crash http://youtu.be/PYSAApmCxVw like mike has. Let alone be mentioned as a title contender. I don't even like alessi that much, but you all need to shut your traps.
@21MotoRules - A road block? Really? Is that why he got 2nd both motos?? Idiot.
@Badmofo - But they arn't here are they? They pushed too hard, crashed, and are now injured. That's the name of the game. Mike DIDN'T push too hard and has stayed healthy. Kudos to him.
Mike is really starting to come around. Seems like he lost the "bad-ass" attitude, and even though his dad is still around... we don't hear about him that much anymore. I honestly feel bad for Mike having to grow up with that POS father. I hated Mike for a long time, especially when he first turned pro with the "believe the hype" crap... but really he was just a kid. All that bull came from Tony. Keep the attitude you've got now Mike and keep doing well.
I am so sick of all of the negative bull shit on here. I wish Racer X would not allow people to make comments on here. Motocross is all about survival of the fitest. If Reed was there and Canard was there and Vilipoto was ther and if Carmichale wouldn't have retired and McGrath wouldn't have retired and Langston wouldn't had his eye issue and hell if Fonsaca wouldn't have broke his neck then all of the front runners would be lucky to be top 10. Do you have any idea how stupid that sounds. Quit posting negative crap on here and give credit were credit is due. Alessie has had some pretty big get offs. And, he is still out there putting in 100%. Time will tell if Reed and Canard can come back from there injury's. Motocross can be such a mind game. Every rider that is out there racing is a warrior. This shit is not easy, that why none of you local pro's are out there racing. Because most of them wont qualify.
Amen ehavens.
I hope Mikey wins a title some day. Would hate for him to end up the Dan Marino of MX/SX.
Reed, Poto, Canard, and Bubbles aren't there because they blew it. Plain and simple.
Let's see here. He's smoking Weimer, Grant, Short, Metcalf, Millsaps, Tickle, Brayton. He's beating these guys by 30 seconds. Yea your right this guy sucks.
A few years ago, when Villapoto went 1-1 at Hangtown, Alessi said the same, lame "I'm going to take what the day gives me and not risk anything by riding beyond what I need to finish". Then, Villapoto had season ending surgery that left Alessi in the driving seat. Suddenly, with the competitor he knew he could never best gone, he changed his tune, talking about how "you have to ride to win, not just settle for what you can get".
What does it say about a rider in what is arguably the top series in the world who openly admits that he will only ride to a certain level and will rely on the misfortune of others to achieve the highest finishing position?
What team wants to hire a guy like that? I have no respect for a racer that isn't furious at the thought of finishing second. Ryan Dungey was giving it everything he had the push himself to keep up with James Stewart. Mike Alessi is the fastest of the second tier riders, the guys Rickey Carmichael chided for taking sponsor money to ride around content with a top ten finish.
As long as there is but one dedicated rider that lasts through a full season uninjured, Alessi will never be champion.
Mike Alessi went 2-2. That makes him an official outdoor threat. He's second in points too. Good on ya' #800!
Thought the outstanding performance would go to the winner not the loser,lil' confused here.
Click on this link. This song should have been wrote for the forty guys on the gate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSP9d2QH6OE
Alessi is (as well as 2008 when James 24-0) in a bit of no man's land - not as fast as the winner but faster than 3rd on back. He tries as he can to keep ahead of the leader and then rides smart and finishes second. Suzuki should step up and give him access to some better equipment (assuming James is out for the season).
I stood for awhile at the turn after the finish line tabletop and he and Dungey were carrying so much more speed than those behind them. Keep digging and you never know what could happen to #5 (hopefully NOTHING).
I think ditching that JT helmet gave him the confidence to go faster!
Alessi is a little odd, and has made some bad career choices, but the kid is fast outdoors and is a good rider.
Hey Haters, Must be really hard for you D*ick Wads to ride from the couch. Until you can line up on the gate with these PRO..fessional racers and make it around 30 + 2 twice, well maybe you have something to say. For anyone to talk S*it about any of these guys are jealous little babies.Get over yourselves !! BOOM!!
Racer X got it right this week, and many of the commenters on here have the right perspective. That was an outstanding performance. The 800 isn't on factory equipment, and he at least gave the fans a thrill and took over the lead for a few laps. All 40 of the guys on the starting line are some bad bad dudes. They have all worked hard to get where they are, and Mike A has worked harder than most if not all. His maturity comes through on his interviews, and I give the man full credit for being a legit threat. Funny how he catches so much flack after going 2-2, when there are truckloads of factory guys that were so far behind that the 800's dust had completely settled by the time they finished. Keep up the great work Mike, and thanks for giving us something to cheer for!
I glad to see Mikey doing well so far this season. I know he gets hammered on alot, but right now he is putting in some good racing. Hpoefully he can make Dungey work for that title.
Eli Tomac gets my vote
Hey, my helmets off to Alessi! When at Freestone, I was standing on the far end of the starting gate watching them bring the bikes in. Mike came up to the fence and you could tell by the look on his face he was not happy. His wife quickly came over and started talking to him, trying to calm him down. Tony came over and joined in that effort, but that look did not go away. I was capturing this on film, when I heard over the pa he had lost his gate pick and would get the last gate. Some how he was top ten around the first corner and he worked his tale off to get into the top 5. Next moto he finished 3rd behind the JS-RD train. He is no longer the winey spoiled believe the Hype kid I watched in 04 at Millville. Mike is now a grizzled vet, he has put in his time and worked his tale off trying to rach those goals he set years ago. He may or may not ever achieve the goal of being a champion again, but he has earned my respect by keeping his head up and not giving up!
Way to go Mikey! Stay smooth, smart, and strong. If he does that he will be just fine! Trying to run down the 5 can be dangerous. Awesome to see! Great ride...
Okay I change my mind.......mikey is THE BEST fader this sport has ever seen!!!!!
Its pretty obvious this guy deserves a factory ride that others dont deserve. He's smoking Metty and Brayton and Weimer and countless others who have better rides than him.
Mike...g...reat rides....... You lead for two next time make it three........ Keep ripping those starts and breathe.
Not many guys yard Dungey outdoors so............... what if you use his tactics..........save your energy - and layback on him.
Hey Suzuki ...Got any team sfuff not being used ?
JimM
Pala374
Alessi only has one thing stoping him from a factory ride. His dad. Ask Roger Decoster.
I love hearing professional commentary on professional athletes from novices.
I say Mike definitely deserves this award. Why? Because without him both 450 motos would have been a snooze fest (and I'm a RD5 fan)! He is the only one right now that has speed enough to run up front, even if it's "only" for 10 or 20 minutes.. that's the only way to get up to speed with the Dunge and JS is to consistently run their pace...a little longer each time. Like others said, he had a huge lead over the rest of the pack so he definitely wasn't going slow by any means.
I figured Mike would do better outdoors than SX, but have been surprised at his speed. I think his "you gotta be in it to win it" attitude is ok since he (and MANY others) haven't made it through without missing rounds to injury.
mit 12 when you talk to roger in your dreams does he talk back..........just keep riding hard Mike
@21moto ...got any pics of him blocking you...please post.....@mit12 when you talk to Roger in your dreams does he talk back... nice rides Mike....trying that hard every week will pay off. @badmofo ...no your not...jump out there ...show him how easy it is ....when you and 21moto actually get bikes we know you'll be the fastest guys in the yard....maybe top five against the dog.......
@handlebore ...your incredibly unique and always original comments demonstrate how your massive frontal lobe barely fits under your hood.....We ALL see how you are truly either in love or completely afraid of JS7 you are....i think both...go ahead master of all that is cornhole.....splash on some "obsession" put on your best coveralls ,throw on a Havoc you tube and declare your love.......
@tonewall.........well said, both posts........
Mike seems humbled these days, but you know Tony the Tiger is lurking out there somewhere to blow his new image. Believe the Hype has haunted this kid for years. Keep charging and keep it clean Mike, maybe a top 3 is in your future.
Well done that man, keep on it.
I wonder if all you what slag him off race or let alone ride.
Mike is doing good, has overcome that horible crash & has raced with the best of the rest & still is.
He has heart & is a racer, good luck Mike Allessi !
You know Alessi is gonna have Metty's ride for 2013 next to JS7
Mikey has been the second fastest guy three and a half times now in outoors. Im not surprized.
Preston, I gotta call you out on your comment. Last year, RD5 and MA800 were on the different bikes, and that didn't go the way you are implying. This year could be different, but isn't this right in there with the "if Dungey wouldn't have boiled his gas at Freestone" senario? Just sayin. And as I have said before, I have not been a fan in the past, but for what it's worth-not much I do realize-I'm starting to like him. He could be OK after all. If he sticks to the current program. As aforementioned, his comebacks from some horrible crashes, does show how determined he is. Keep this up, Mike. Things are starting to go your way.
@ehavens - really? that song? I would have picked this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
Tonewall,
Have you watched Moto inside the outdoors? Roger said said it loud and clear.
You have to be in it to win it. Mike is in it, and he may not be able to beat Dungey, but he is riding smart and holds on the second in the points. There were 37 other riders on that track behind Mike that could not take second from him though some of the big dogs are out.
Having been at the race and watched it live, Mike put on one hell of a performance, the best of the year for him so far.
@ Preston. You are right. I thought of that later. My bad. And, yeah. I'm starting to wonder about MA too. But the one thing that is good about this is he is doing darn good on the non-factory ride. That has to make him look good. And if he keeps it up it could lead to more support, just like CR 22 last year. Might help him step up, and that would for all of us. I really hope he maintains his current disposition. I like the new Mike.
"and that would be good for all of us" sorry
Way to go MA800! No doubt in my mind he would even be faster on a factory bike designed specifically for him. Since when is the second fastest rider among the 40 best in the USA a slow loser? As we've seen this year anything can happen. RD almost crashed hard at High Point. Hanging around in 2nd could work out afterall.
Why are there so many immature morons on here? To all the dumb haters I've got two letters even you'll understand, F-O!
Preston , i agree with you, ,,, put mike ALessi on a factory bike and then that will level the playing field......Alessi really shines when it comes to the outdoors!!! IT really sounds like a faagFest with all the guys complaining about the riders....lol what's with you haters,...If you haters met mike at a track you'd likely act like a huge fan!!! ,,, "HEy MiKE, HEy MiKe"...drool , drool, oh i peed my pants.....lol..
I like Mike