MotoConcepts Race Report: Phoenix
Like the prior week, the team fielded three warriors – Mike Alessi, Jeff Alessi in the Supercross class and Vince Friese on Lites for the January 14th, 2012 event.
Vince started off inauspiciously, hitting a Tuff block kicked onto the track by eventual main event winner Dean Wilson, causing him to eat some dirt in the first go at timed qualifying. He regrouped for the second session and went into the night show with the 15th fastest lap time. Friese, usually a fine starter, gated poorly in both his heat race and the main event. He took the last transfer spot to the main in his heat with a 9th place finish. After rounding the first lap of the main in 16th, Vince picked off a couple of riders in the first few laps of the race and settled into 14th place, where he ended his evening. He sits 15th overall in series points after two races.
For Jeff, the younger of the Alessi brothers, the day almost ended before it really even started. Coming up short on the triple during untimed practice, he bent the shift rod going into the engine case. His mechanic worked feverishly to repair the bike while Jeff missed the first session of timed practice. In the second session, Jeff was able to secure a time fast enough to move him forward to the night program, where he placed out of a direct transfer spot in his heat race. In the Last Chance Qualifier, Jeff showed much improvement and ran as high as 4th place, to eventually finish 5th.
Mike Alessi looked good all day, qualifying 10th ahead of such notable riders as Millsaps, Short, Grant, Tedesco, Metcalfe, and Wey. His MCR-built race bike has been working well for Mike this year and his lap times reflect it. He easily qualified for the main event by placing 3rd in his heat and felt confident going into the main. Uncharacteristically, he got a terrible start, coming around the first turn in the back of the back. Mike went to work and moved up six places on the first lap to 11th position. Battling with factory Honda rider Justin Brayton, the two became entangled and both went down hard, with Mike having difficulty restarting his bike. He rejoined the field almost 30 seconds off of the next closest rider but didn’t give up. He put in solid laps for the remainder of the race, moving his way up to 16th place the race’s end. He currently sits 12th place overall in the series.
MotoConcepts Racing would also like to congratulate Ryan Dungey, Roger DeCoster, and KTM for their tremendous first victory together this past weekend. They have quickly and effectively shown that the conventional wisdom isn’t always wise and wish them further success in the season ahead.
To follow the ascent of MotoConcepts Racing and see MotoConcepts products, please go to www.MotoConcepts.com Details of Mike, Jeff, and Tony Alessi’s racing season can be found at www.AlessiRacing.com
