Makita Suzuki Signs Mike Alessi

Up-and-coming rider excited to join multi-championship-winning team

BREA, Calif., (July 30, 2007) – American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) announced today that Team Makita Suzuki Racing has signed former amateur champion Mike Alessi to race the all-new Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 in the AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross series beginning in 2008. “I could not be more excited about the opportunity to become part of the American Suzuki racing family for the 2008/2009 seasons,” said Alessi. “The results that Suzuki's racing teams have earned in the past several years, in all forms of racing in the U.S., speak for themselves. To have the opportunity to work with professionals like Roger DeCoster, Ray Tetherton and the entire team is something I'm really looking forward to.”

“I will miss working with the wonderful people I've come to know at KTM during the past few years. As a company, KTM has provided me with a lot of support and has been instrumental in the progress of my professional career. I hope that everyone at KTM is as proud of the results I've been able to earn as I am.”

The 19-year-old started racing minibikes when he was 3 years old and won dozens of regional championships. After capturing his 11th title at the prestigious AMA Loretta Lynn’s Amateur Motocross Championship, he turned Pro at age 16 and went on to podium in his second-ever AMA Motocross at Steel City in 2004. A factory ride followed shortly thereafter and, since then, Alessi has more than proven his mettle in both AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross. The Southern Californian is currently fifth overall in AMA Toyota Motocross, thanks to two podium finishes so far this season. In 2006, Alessi finished second overall in AMA Motocross Lites with a win and seven podiums, and fourth overall in AMA Supercross Lites with two podiums and two top-five finishes. “We are very excited to have Mike join Team Makita Suzuki,” said Team Makita Suzuki Manager Roger DeCoster. “While Mike has been the subject of a bit of controversy in the past, we feel he has reached a turning point in his career and will put forth the effort necessary to succeed. He is a highly motivated young man and his recent accomplishments in the 2007 AMA Motocross series have shown that he has the skill and determination to get the results we are all looking for.” Currently, Alessi lives in Victorville, California with his family and his brother, Jeff, who also races AMA Motocross and Supercross. When he’s not busy riding and training, he spends what downtime he has with his girlfriend, Danielle, and their dog, Holeshot.

“The signing of Mike Alessi completes our current team roster for 2008,” added DeCoster. “Team Makita Suzuki will consist of Ryan Dungey and Nico Izzi competing aboard the 2008 Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 in the SX and MX Lites classes. In the SX and MX classes, David Vuillemin and Mike will ride the all-new, fuel-injected 2008 RM-Z450. We are looking forward to next season with great expectations for our new riders and our brand-new bike.”

For more information on Team Makita Suzuki Racing, log onto www.teamsuzuki.com.