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MIKE ALESSI
450 SX / A-1
IMAGE / MPG WORDS / LANNAN DESIGN / WILSON
>> Mike Alessi has been a regular in Supercross for well over ten years now. He continues to be the team leader for Motoconcepts Honda and 2017 looks to be the same. Mike started off the year looking fast and confident in the first timed practice in Angel Stadi- um. He jumped out behind usual leader Jason Anderson and kept the pressure on. There was no doubt about it; Mike was ready for the season. When the gate dropped for the first Heat race, Mike didn’t get off to the greatest start but rode strong and steady all the way to the finish. He would then go to the Semi where his start was much better and he was running 3rd place early on. He con- tinued to lay down solid laps until a mistake dropped him outside the top five. Mike regrouped and turned on the gas. His efforts paid off as he made a last lap pass for 5th place, securing his spot in the Main Event. Mike knew he had his work cut out for him in the Main as he had a outside gate pick. He got a decent jump and made his way through the first corner in the top 15 but was forced outside in the second corner where he lost multiple positions. He was now in survival mode as the chaos ensued ahead of him. Mike regained his composure and put in clean laps until just passed the halfway point where a mistake led him to come up way too short on the first big triple. Mike held it together for another fifty feet after casing until shockingly collapsing onto the ground. Mike was hauled off the track and he seemed to be relatively unin- jured despite the incident. Thoughts go out to the Alessi family and hope to see him back on the bike next weekend.
118 GRITMOTO • JANUARY 9, 2017