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MIKE ALESSI
450 SX / 17TH
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / ECKERT DESIGN / WILSON
>> The infamous #800 of Mike Alessi has always been a threat at the start but is still yet to live up to the hype that once surrounded the esteemed amateur. Defi- nitely a main event contender and a starting line expert, it’s anyone’s guess as
to which Mike Alessi will be at any given round. With a season best finish of 10th in Minneapolis for round seven two weeks ago, its obvious that Alessi can battle but with consistent struggles to maintain the speed for the entire race, Mike came into Toronto wanting to better his previous results. As heat one began, Mike, like usual, expressed his start skill dominance sitting in third around the first turn. Shuffled back to 5th quickly, the opening lap appeared dismal for Mike as he was then passed by Dungey and continued to fall to 8th by the time the pack crossed the finish. Holding 8th for the next few minutes, it wasn’t until the final minutes
of the heat that Alessi was pushed to 9th behind Cole Seely. Unable to respond, Alessi settled for 9th and a ticket to the Semi. There, Alessi was 6th out of the gate and happened to hold that same position for the rest of the race, dropping 13 seconds over the course of the moto. The night gained some life for Alessi, though, in the last chance qualifier as Mike grabbed the lead early on and rode the entire three minute race out front.
In the main, Alessi was, uncharacteristically, in the back of the pack, sitting 14th at the holeshot line. By lap two, Mike was pushed back to 16th in front of Kyle Chisolm, but after the first couple minutes, Alessi dropped a spot to Chisolm and followed the #11 for the rest of the first half of the main event. Once the race entered the final eight minutes, Alessi was able to get back by Kyle Chisolm for 16th. At the same time, his fellow teammate, Vince Friese, also got around the #11 and the two riders were in the heat of battle for the remaining moments of the main event. Unfortunately for Mike, the #61 of Friese came out on top and earned bragging rights under the team tent for the next week until Daytona. There, Alessi will hope to earn back the bragging rights and keep his streak of six straight main events alive.
100 GRITMOTO • MARCH 5, 2017