Motocross Performance Magazine Canadian Motocross news leader
The Monster Energy Supercross series was not expecting to see the #800 of Mike Alessi line up this year or anytime in the future, but when Smartop/Bullfrog Spas/MotoConcept Honda riders Vince Friese and Malcolm Stewart went down with season ending injuries, they called the #800 to fill in. With the factors of Alessi currently riding the same Honda for Team Honda GDR/Fox Racing in Canadian MX as he would ride for MCR, and with his career accolades and proven talents, he was the most capable candidate with the ability to score points immediately. Alessi’s father, Tony, the current team manager for MCR, also gives Alessi a built-in rapport with the team to step in seamlessly from day one. Team owner Mike Genova stated, “In an effort to maintain exposure for MCR and team sponsors, we have recruited the #800 of Mike Alessi to represent MCR at select races in the 450 class for the remainder of the 2019 Monster Energy Supercross series. Mike was our first and best choice as he has been preparing for the Canadian MX series aboard the Honda 450. Alessi is familiar with the MCR team and the team is familiar with him. With Mike being in top shape combined with his starting capabilities and conservative tracks, Tony and I feel Mike can finish in the mix. While we as a team we are saddened and disappointed for Vince, we’re excited to watch an enthused, recharged Mike Alessi mix it up with the best riders in the world.”
During the Supercross Series, Mike Alessi was always getting his usual great starts. Photo by James Lissimore
Alessi, also known as “Mr. Holeshot,” turned pro in 2004 and began racing supercross in 2006. Over the span of his career in AMA supercross, Alessi’s best finish came in 2012 when he finished 6th overall. Enjoying more success in AMA motocross, he had 25 total podiums, 2 overall wins, 4 Top-5 finishes, and in the years 2007 and 2012 he finished 2nd overall.
Alessi has been training and preparing for the upcoming MX portion of the 2019 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Championship in Canada, riding for MotoConcepts Smartop. Although he has not competed in the Monster Energy Supercross series since 2017, he was in riding form, focused, and ready to take on the challenge immediately. At his first stop, with only three days to prepare and to get accustomed with the new crew, he was not only able to qualify but finished 16th at Atlanta. Originally only signed on to fill in for four rounds to give him enough time to prepare for the Canadian season, unfortunately Justin Brayton went down with a season ending injuring, opening room for the #800 to finish the season with MCR before heading back to Canada.
In total, Alessi has scored a total of 37 points with only half the starts as the rest of the field, good for 25th place currently. Here are his results:
Atlanta – 16th place – 7 points
Dayton Beach – 20th place – 3 points
Indianapolis – 17th place – 6 points
Seattle – 13th place – 10 points
Houston – 22nd place – 1 point
Nashville – 14th place – 9 points
Denver – 22nd place – 1 point
Even though Mike Alessi joined the Monster Energy SX Series late, he was competitive right away. Photo by James Lissimore
After the completion of the season, Alessi will head back to Canada for the 2019 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Championship. Alessi has stated he enjoys the short summer season, lasting from June until mid-August. With the shortened season, along with close vicinity of races, he packs his family into the RV and heads out for a summer vacation, with a few races sprinkled in for fun. In the twilight of his career and with the addition of a daughter to the family within the last year, switching from the constant grind of the Monster Energy Supercross series with its weekly races, constant travel from city to city, the cut throat intensity of each race, and the continual hotel stays, it has given him the opportunity to be more of a family man and in a less stressed work environment. Alessi stated he only envisions himself riding 2-3 more seasons before hanging it up and fully committing to being a family man.
In the 2019 Canadian Championship, Alessi will make the switch to Team Honda GDR/Fox Racing after previously riding for Monster Energy/Alpinestars Kawasaki. He will lineup on June 1, at Wild Rose in Calgary, AB to begin his fourth season. Alessi, looking to improve on his performance in the series, with a 5th overall finish in 2016, 4th overall in 2017, and 12th overall, in a shortened season due to injuries, in 2018. Now healthy, we see Alessi improving on last year’s season and joining the ranks of Colton Facciotti, Cole Thompson, and Matt Goerke.
Alessi stated “I have been blessed to be able to have the ability to race a motorcycle as a profession. I’m very excited to have an opportunity to come back to Canada to race for the 2019 season. This will be my 15th year racing professionally. I am looking forward to being on the Honda Canada GDR Fox Racing Team. The team has a great dynamic and has proven that by winning multiple championships throughout the years. Honda has always been a bike that has suited me well in the past and I am happy to be back. Winning multiple amateur titles on the motorcycle as well as racing competitively for wins in the United States. I believe this will be one of my greatest years yet having the age and knowledge and the team dynamic behind me. I am also so very thankful to have my longtime sponsor Smartop Spa Covers back on board with me this year. Mike Genova has always supported and stood behind me in my racing career”
After being injured for most of the 2018 MXTour Series, Mike Alessi is very excited for the upcoming summer. Photo by James Lissimore
This will be the second year of the newly named and operated Canadian MX championship, for the last 25 years formerly named the CMRC Nationals of Canada. Last year the name was officially changed to the Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Championship, now broken into three parts; arena, motocross, and supercross. Last year’s limited issues like live timing and race delays, did not stop the season from being a success under the new sponsorship, and we look forward to seeing improvements, like how we saw Walton and Sand Del Lee back on the schedule, made year after year.
Statement from Jetwerx CEO Justin Thompson, “The first year was amazing from so many angles,” he goes on “In no way was it easy but we built the Triple Crown and we’re proud of year one. We aimed high to showcase the talent Canada has to offer, on and off the track, our goals were met. For 2019 we’ve condensed the schedule to meet the needs and budgets of teams better, as well as the sponsors, and we have new goals to reach. Looking at this schedule below has us very excited to begin Racing in April.”(4)
Last year’s champ Colton Facciotti, riding for GDR Honda, looks to once again be in the hunt to take home another title. His dominant performance in 2018, claiming 4 overall wins and winning races by 45 seconds, or more, on numerous occasions showed he will be a force to be reckoned with in this upcoming season. Winning his 5th title has put his name in the ring with the greatest Canadian MX riders of all-time including the great Jean Sebastian Roy, Darcy Lange, and Blair Morgan.
This summer Colton Facciotti will be going for this record sixth Canadian 450 Outdoor Championship. Photo by James Lissimore
Looking to unseat Facciotti as the reigning champ will be Cole Thompson. Thompson, riding for the factory KTM Canada team, is 2017’s series Champ, finished 2nd in the motocross series in 2018, and took home the first ever Canadian Rockstar Energy Triple Crown Championship last year. He is currently the leader in Triple Crown points with 65, followed closely by Matt Goerke with 61. Goerke now riding with Monster Energy/Alpinestars/Piller’s Kawasaki and Huber Motorsports stated, “I am excited to join the Monster Energy Alpinestars Piller’s Kawasaki Race Team! I am also looking forward to working with some new faces and familiar ones that I have won championships with in the past. We are all very motivated and ready to do whatever it takes to win this year!”(3) Goerke took home the championship in 2012 and will look to put his name at the top of the leaderboard each week to contend for the motocross championship. We expect an exciting season and lots of movement on top of the leaderboard.
2019 Rockstar Energy Triple Crown MX Tour
Round 1 – June 1 – Wild Rose – Calgary, AB
Round 2 – June 8 – Blackwater MX – Prince George, BC
Round 3 – June 15 – McNabb Valley – Minnedosa, MB
Round 4 – July 13 – Gopher Dunes – Courtland, ON
Round 5 – July 20 – Sand Del Lee – Ottawa, ON
Round 6 – July 27 – Riverglade MX – Moncton, NB
Round 7 – August 3 – Motocross Deschambault – Deschambault, QC
Round 8 – August 17 – Walton Raceway – Walton, ON
