Mike Alessi, emotional winner at Indy SX

Actually I'm not sure what this means or what I'm really trying to say because for sure Chad Reed and his camp were pretty emotionally pumped by his first win of the season at the Lucas Oil Stadium last weekend.
Somehow though, I think that Mike Alessi won a much bigger battle in the Hoosiers' State capitol. Mike has fought a few many battles in the last year, from his horrible crash at Red Bud '08, to the arrival of Reed in the team taking the #1 rider position, the rumor mills going passed the rev limiter about him during the off season and early in the year and more. Recently things were a bit up and down in his private life and this had for sure an impact on his mental strength coming into A1.
The Alessis have generated controversies and drama most of their amateur career and into their young pro life. Many people have been happy to see Mike fail at the doorstep of championships against the likes of Tedesco, Villopoto or Langston; many rivals moved to the pro class with Kime and his brother Jeff, like Millsaps or RV. Those families have a pretty heated Amateur past together without a doubt.
But along the years, from Honda to KTM to Suzuki, Mike has been working hard. Pounding lap after lap on practice tracks, races afte races, he has made his place into the top rank of AMA Motocross, finishing championships runner-up 3 or 4 years in a row. He was probably on his way to another 2nd overall in the series if not for his crazy crash at Red Bud.

For sure the guy is solid, serious, hard-working and very focused. Still, it's not easy to get away from the past sometimes and in that MX past, Mike has had a few mishaps and some are still bashin on him as often as they can. Some people are still saying that he's not a supercross rider.

So his race to 3rd at the Indy Supercross last week was an amazing achievement for Mike Alessi as he proved many wrong by riding steady, solid and surely to his first podium in the Supercross class, on the 450. An emotional victory for Mike The Hype because it was his first race s entire career, amateur and pro, without the presence of his dad who stayed in Florida, it was his first race with Daniele back in his close entourage. The first race I heard him thanked his mom on the podium, more than once.

I don't think that he can win a Supercross this season, I don't think that he'll be on the podium all next 8 rounds,but Mike made a point to the critics and to himself this weekend when he proved that he is podium material. I hope to see him again up there, it's surely freshnig to see a very happy, relieved and fullfilled rider like MA was on Saturday night.

Believe The Hype! ;-)

SX 2009: D -3 and Red Bull No Limits

As the teams are converging onto Anaheim's Angel Stadium, Racer X reported a small rumor that if coming out to be true, would be another amazing marketing move.

According to Racer X, Jason Lawrence's party (no pun intended) didn't come to terms with Fox Racing and J-Law would be moving to One Industries for the 2009 season. OMG! If this is really happening, One Industries would end up with two of the bitter rivals of our sports in the USA. Both Jason Lawrence and Minnesota wonder Ryan Dungey dislike each other openly. I think that the rivalry even developped into "hatin'" for RD10 and the recent Supercross Preview show that aired on CBS really made sure that his would come out loud and clear during Ryan's interview. Those 2 guys had stormy battles, on and off the track, in 2008 and 2009 can only promise to be better, stronger, and Kathrina-esque!

If it's true, I am very surprisd that a pro athlete like Lawrence who has one of the most famous and experienced agent in the industry used and rode Fox Racing gear during the off-season, if no deals had been finalized. That was definitely extra exposure for the Morgan Hill crew as J-Law is constantly on the radar of the mx-paparazi scene, a bit like the othe J-Lo ;-)

If this is confirmed though, I can only be in admiration for another amazing marketing move by the guys at One Industries who will have both rivals under their flag. What a fun year it is going to be for the One Ind. advertizers, man, I am jealous! :-)
In doing so, One tells people that they cover the full spectrum of the MX scene, from the very well behaved, clean cut, kids to the bad boyz.
In an industry where paying athletes is really worth it as long as they bring you big media coverage, what better move than this, knowing that these 2 guys, thanks to their bitter rivalry and racing skills, should be all over the press for the years to come.


Robbie Maddison is nuts and that's really cool for us!

My friend Ron Joynt of DeCal Works is very excited about this because Maddo will wear DeCal Works graphics/decals on his YZ250 tonight in Las Vegas:

After attempting the long distance jump on a motorcycle on December 31st 2007, reaching 322 feet (or 98.14 meters), Maddo will go at it again tonight in Las Vegas and attempt another crazy jump, during the Red Bull New Year's No Limit, live on ESPN. I don't want to go into the description of what this is really - a crazy but very well prepared jump by a crazy but very pro and cool Australian rider - basically Robbie will jump 98ft high onto the top of the Las Vegas' Arc de Triomphe, then drop 100ft down on the other side.

Steve Matthes did a quick interview of Maddo for Racer X.

To give you an idea, check this photo of the ramp (thanks to Racer X for the steal):


Things can go wrong. Check this vid' of Maddo close-call practicing.



HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

BONNE ANNEE 2009 A TOUS

KHERI YA MWAKA MPIA 2009

FELIZ ANO NUEVO A TODOS

TATRA N'TOANA 2009