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Mike Alessi has been coming on strong as of late and was expecting to continue that into East
Rutherford where he has had success in the past. He qualified with a pretty solid thirteenth
fastest lap time but all he needed was one of his signature holeshots to get his night going.
Mike did not get a good jump out of the gate that is quite the rare occurrence but he salvaged a sixth place start. He had his hands full at the start of the race and it resulted in him losing a spot early to Kawasaki rider Josh Grant. Mike tried to stay locked in and get back moving forward but he would succumb to the likes of Broc Tickle at the end of the race.
The semi went a little better for the California rider as he got a better start coming around lap one in fifth. He settled in that position unable to catch the riders ahead of him but gapping the riders behind him. He stayed right there for the remainder of the race using that fifth and final transfer spot to head to the main event.
His third gate drop of the night and third uncharacteristically bad start. It would also be his worst of the night ending lap one in eleventh position. That is right around where he has been battling lately so I expected him to hold his own up there but he fell a few positions and was fourteenth at the halfway point. After losing those positions he decided he had enough and stopped the bleeding. He stabilized his place all the way to the end of the race. Mike has to be bummed with his performance but the season heads back west to Vegas next weekend where he has always done well. Look for Mike to drop the hammer and try to end his season on a high note.
words/SETHHARNISHFEGER
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