Mike Alessi - 450/Premier Class Career

450/Premier Class Career

Alessi had announced early in 2007 that he was stepping up to race in the premier Motocross Class for the 2007 AMA Motocross Championship. Many critics felt that he was abandoning his chance at a championship in the Lites class, but Alessi was confident that he was making the right choice for himself. After finishing the first two races just barely inside the top ten, Alessi recorded six podium finishes and finished second place overall in his rookie season in the Motocross class.

Alessi's debut season in the Supercross Class seemed promising as he was fourth place in the championship points race after five of seventeen rounds. His season was cut short in San Diego during the sixth round of the 2008 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. During the second practice session, Alessi crashed in the whoops section of the track resulting in a broken collarbone. After a seven week recovery, Alessi decided to sit out the remainder of the 2008 Supercross season in order to prepare for the upcoming 2008 AMA Motocross Championship.

Alessi quickly established himself as the second fastest racer behind James Stewart, Jr. during the initial rounds of the 2008 AMA Motocross Championship. However, Alessi suffered a severe crash at Red Bud Raceway on July 6, 2008 during the second moto. The crash resulted in Alessi breaking both shoulder blades and a rib, bruising a lung, and suffering a severe concussion. He sat out the remainder of the season and finished tenth overall in the championship.

In September 2008, three months before the beginning of the 2009 Monster Energy AMA Supercross series, Alessi broke his fibula and tibia bones in the lower left leg during a Supercross practice session. After recovering from his injuries, Alessi competed in the entire 2009 Supercross season scoring eleven top ten finishes one of which was a third place podium finish in Indianapolis. He finished the season ninth place overall.

The 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross saw the renewed rivalry of Ryan Villopoto and Mike Alessi as Villopoto made his debut in the newly renamed 450cc Class (previously called the Motocross Class.) Alessi finished second overall behind Villopoto at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California. In preparation for the second round of the series, Villopoto injured his knee during practice and would be forced to have surgery and sit out the remainder of the 2009 season. With Villopoto out for the season, Alessi won the second and third races of the series and took over the series points lead. In preparation for the fourth round of the series, Alessi crashed during a practice session and broke his left kneecap. After surgery and a two week recovery, Alessi felt he could rejoin the 2009 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross series and continue fighting for the championship. After a crash in the first moto of the fifth round at Thunder Valley Motocross Park in Colorado, Alessi opted not to risk further damage to his knee and decided to sit out the remainder of the 2009 motocross season.

For the 2010 racing season, Alessi signed once again with factory KTM. He sat out the entire 2010 Supercross season spending most of his time in Europe testing the brand new KTM 350SXF. Alessi debuted the 350CC machine at the opening round of the 2010 AMA Motocross Championship. He scored an impressive second moto win and took home a second overall finish. Unfortunately, Alessi struggled the rest of the summer to produce the results he experienced during the first round of the series. After scoring only one more top three overall finish (a second place during the tenth of twelve rounds) Alessi finished the series fifth overall.

The 2011 Supercross season began with Alessi competing in his first American Supercross race on a KTM 350SXF. He scored a season best 6th place in Seattle and finished the series in twelfth place. There was a lot of anticipation surrounding the 2011 AMA National Motocross series as Alessi returned to racing the KTM 450SXF. He began the season at the Hangtown National by setting the fastest overall qualifying time in practice. Unfortunately, on the very next lap, Alessi crashed on a downhill jump and suffered a concussion that forced him to sit out the first two rounds of the series. He was able to score consistent points over the next ten rounds and finished a respectable fifth overall.

In October 2011, Alessi signed with team MotoConcepts, along with his brother Jeff Alessi, to race aboard a Suzuki RMZ-450. Alessi scored eleven top ten finishes during the 2012 AMA Supercross season which included three top five finishes. He finished the series with a career best sixth place overall.