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MIKE ALESSI
The once iconic and forever ridiculed number 800 bike comes into Detroit needing a sign of hope. A
former superstar in the amateur ranks, the entire professional career of Mike Alessi has been under
the scrutiny of almost every racer, team, employee and fan of the motocross/supercross world. After the “believe the hype” campaign back in 2004; during Mike’s introduction to the professional scene; the controversial event in Glen Helen way back when, with Ivan Tedesco; and even two years ago in Atlanta, when Alessi blatantly took out Broc Tickle in a heat race that took them both down; the #800 continues to search for the stardom that he once knew, without regard for his reputation.
It’s been a tough stretch for him, though, with no one to blame and such an assumed destiny to fulfill, consistency has remained his downfall. How you ask? Well, Alessi gets good starts. He always has. In the beginning of his career, Alessi was a serious contender, specifically in the AMA nationals. In supercross, he was there, he rode fast and put up decent results but ever since entering the professional classes, now a 450 regular, Alessi has remained a holeshot threat while rarely being able to maintain one of the front spots. It can’t be assumed a conditioning problem as Alessi seems to train hard. Is it equipment? Being on the satellite Smartop/Moto- Concepts Honda with numerous Factory rides in the past, that can’t be it. What then? There is nothing else to explain the professional struggles of Alessi, therefore, it has to be a form of habit.
The pressure of consistently starting up front and continuously losing spots to remain a mid-pack rider will destroy the needed confi- dence a rider requires to survive. For Alessi, it’s a shame that his position in years past has been outside the top 5 and now for 2016, is struggling to break the top 10. Over half way through the season, with only dismal results to report, Alessi’s chances to prove he still has the ability to maintain any championship hopes are running out. What he’ll need is the same start techniques and courage to last a full twenty laps. With that said, every round could prove to be the right dirt for Alessi and the #800 to turn around, Detroit being no different.
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GRITMOTO • MARCH.21.16