At the halfway mark, who do you feel is the most underrated rider in the 450 Class?
Monday, July 9, 2012 | 3:00 PM
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PrintAt the halfway mark of the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championships, who do you feel is the most underrated performer in the 450 Class?
Brock Tickle 1255 votes - 21.4%
Mike Alessi 1757 votes - 29.9%
Jake Weimer 852 votes - 14.5%
Davi Millsaps 102 votes - 1.7%
Nico Izzi 436 votes - 7.4%
Josh Grant 197 votes - 3.4%
Michael Byrne 165 votes - 2.8%
Andrew Short 271 votes - 4.6%
Cole Thompson 611 votes - 10.4%
Matt Lemoine 58 votes - 1%
Ryan Sipes 168 votes - 2.9%
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Cole Thompson was a "B" class rider last year, how could anyone not vote for him ?
I would say Ryan Dungey. The guy gets no respect.
@BigBoreFan
I agree 100%, was actually hoping his name was on here.
How could any of you have picked someone other than Cole??? B class amateur to 7th place in pro 450 at REDBUD??????????
How about over rated!
James Stewart
Was about to say Dungey, but it's been covered. Doesn't matter what he does on the track, people will always say, "but if...".
Ryan Dungey gets so much respect he didnt even make the list. He is not "underrated" because he belongs where he is !
Dungy is like Rodney Dangerfield. He gets no respect. How many races does he have to win? RV and Reed like to down play his sucsess because they were broken off and sitting home on the couch.
who has more 450 MX and SX wins, Dungey or RV?
Dungey is underrated for sure, but you guys are talking like he gets the coverage of a 10th place rider. Dungey is underrated because he does everything so quietly, no drama, just does his thing, thanks his sponsors and works his a** off during the week. Rinse and repeat until he claims the title..
The better question would have been the most "overated" 450 riders at mid-point.
Top 5
One guys stands on an island when it comes to this question
1. Josh Grant - By a Long Shot (in a league of his own) - one word "retire"
2. Jason "$$$" Thomas - 3 words (Are you kidding)
3. Justin Brayton (too bad for injuries - Canard & Reed are the real deal)
4. Brett Metcalfe - Lone Suzuki rider no more (should have stuck with Honda)
5. James Stewart - $$$ makes you soft
Alessi second in points on privateer equipment and gets no help from Suzuki even though both (at one point in time) their riders are down.
Losing a lot of respect for Suzukis way of doing business. I guess they are reverting to the pre-DeCoster (as manager) days when they were always the four in "the big four". Sad.
Agreed Carlsbad. And in my local Sunday paper, they even had the MX results (first time ever) and noted 'Suzuki's Mike Alessi' in the results. Free advertising.
Alessi is right where he should be, factory bike or not.
@carlsbad,, I dont know for sure, but the Alessis' could have burned some bridges at Zuk when he rode for them.
If your name is not James Stewart, You are underrated.......................
So Cole Thompson has one decent ride and he is underrated?? Come on, at least wait and see what happens the next couple races before he gets any votes. I would say Mike Alessi. Sitting second in points with a non-factory ride even though he is the only other rider capable of holding off Dungey or Stewart for more than one lap. He should be a factory rider hands down.
Honda did a similar thing with Reed in the beginning. They waited to see if he was worth the hassle and when he was, they loosened the purse strings.
Suzuki IMO, has got rid of their best & brightest (Decoster, Ian Harrison, Gosselaar, etc and this doesn't even begin to name all of the cogs that go into making a well-oiled machine) over money problems.
@ mxmofo1, I think it was said before but, who is left @ Suzuki that TONY ALESSI rubbed wrong? I believe DeCoster was the factor from keeping #800 from returning to 'Zook in 2010 (and then he went to KTM, Tony Alessi must tell people RD is following them).
@carlsbad, you should lose repsect for Genova and T Alessi for being such asshats and going off on Suzuki all the time! Why should Suzuki give them anything after MC team has badmouthed them so much?
That looks like the list of people that Dungey is making look Stupid...
Dungey, period! Has there ever been a guy who came from the intermediates straight to the pros and did what he has? Great racer, better person!
I'd say Alessi is making Suzuki look pretty good right now. They shouldn't have anything against him.
@ mxpunker, Touche'.
While I respect TA as a father, I have never respected his decisions regarding his kids' careers. That said, they're a family of MX'ers doing it their way and for that, I give them props. I believe MA could do better though.......who the h-e-l-l leaves Roger DeCoster? That is an "All-Time" bad move.
Yeah, browbeating a person or company into giving in to your demands is either child-like immature or bullying, neither of which, do I allow on my watch.
In their (Suzukis) defense, the (MCR) team runs a mishmash of bikes, 250F Hondas, 450 Suzukis, all painted black like the guys in the '80's / '90's did when they didn't get factory support. How do you jump onboard that?
@ WFO_UFO, good point. Suziki should be in the "forgive and forget" phase of their relationship because who else at this point in the year is going to give them that kind of media exposure.
My guess is, the person in charge of getting them anything is so new to the position, that they either don't have the will or the wherewithall to go make it happen. How does one go to bat for Tony Alessi when it is such a seemingly fruitless endeavor?
@carlsbad,, there are more powerful people at Suzuki than DeCoster when he was there.
Regardless of our perceptions of who is overrated / underrated, I had to give Alessi credit this weekend for his 2nd moto interview when he dedicated his race to Josh Lichtle. I did not hear any other mention of Josh who died last year in this race, which was unbelievable to me. But Mike A remembered and made it a point to bring it up, which I thought was a nice gesture and show of respect.
@carlsbad ....looks to me like Alessi goes just fine on that supposedly inferior bike and maybe just MAYBE he and Suzuki are happy hes where hes at....I don't see why Suzuki has to answer to fans for corporate decisions that i'm POSITIVE have more to do with monetary situations than the personal life of the Alessi's or the opinion of an ex employee. @endo4...excellent take.
Honestly, after the top five James S, Ryan D, Ryan V, Trey C, Chad R. the WHOLE 450 class is a disappointment! The gap to everybody else is stupid, I can't believe that only Trey in the last eight years found the speed and have the heart to run with the Big Boys. WHY? 450 class is boring with 35 sec wins. If the races where still 45 mins. they would lap the whole field! Come on guys step up your game. I can't vote for any of them. THEIR SHAMEFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please Racerx pass this question to the riders, maybe they will step it up!
The 450 riders should have performance and results pay ONLY, no salaries! Then just then they might stop riding like C class riders. Or just give them a trophy at the end of the day like the Am's.
lets change the question to OVERRATED
At least 4 on that list come to mind as "dead wood".
coulda,shoulda,woulda.
Time past due to bring out the broom.
Mike Alessi is way OVER rated. I think it's up in the air between Dungey and Tickle. They both get little respect for how well they are doing especially RD5.