Mike Alessi needs___--_--_--_--_--___

Just a gut reaction, but, I do think he has lost the joy of riding. Now with the whole team thing it seems the pressure is even worse.

.... to grow up....

Yea this place is kinda numbing .... Paece

He needs to listen to a bunch of people on vital that he would lap in a 2 lap race.

Nice and true. In 3 years Racer X will (should) do a story on top amateur prospects who never made it in the pros. He will be at the top of the list. Too bad, has talent but as many have said it is not his ability on the bike but other factors (dad), mental that kept him back. Remember Todd Marvin Marinovich USC and Oakland QB? His dad actually said he chose his wife based on her genetic make up to "breed" a top NFL athlete. Every time I see the Alessi show I think of him and how he ended up. Guy has heart and work ethic but will never win a championship.

Look at some of the statements below and see if you see a parallel.

Marinovich's unique development led to growing media attention. In January 1988, he appeared on the cover of California magazine with the headline "ROBO QB: THE MAKING OF A PERFECT ATHLETE."[1][3] In February Sports Illustrated published an article, titled "Bred To Be A Superstar", that discussed his unique upbringing under his father who wanted to turn his son into the "perfect quarterback". The article declared Marinovich "America's first test-tube athlete", and discussed how his mother encouraged his interest in art, music, and classical Hollywood cinema while banning cartoons as too violent. His father assembled a team of advisers to tutor him on every facet of the game.[2][3] The article stated that:

He has never eaten a Big Mac or an Oreo or a Ding Dong. When he went to birthday parties as a kid, he would take his own cake and ice cream to avoid sugar and refined white flour. He would eat homemade catsup, prepared with honey. He did consume beef but not the kind injected with hormones. He ate only unprocessed dairy products. He teethed on frozen kidney. When Todd was one month old, Marv was already working on his son's physical conditioning. He stretched his hamstrings. Pushups were next. Marv invented a game in which Todd would try to lift a medicine ball onto a kitchen counter. Marv also put him on a balance beam. Both activities grew easier when Todd learned to walk. There was a football in Todd's crib from day one. "Not a real NFL ball," says Marv. "That would be sick; it was a stuffed ball."[2]

Why does a top-5ish guy get so much crap? He just switched bikes also. Maybe he isn't on the same level as Villopoto, (no one else is), he does have some speed. I've met him once and he was really cool. He was definately focused and his dad was cool too. I don't see how most people on here comment about his dad. How many of you know their family chemistry? Or how Mike functions on race day? I just wish the best for Mike, and hope he lands a good team.

He went 6-21-6 Saturday. Why did he get 21st in the second moto? If that 21st was another 6th he'd be in the top five, which would be a great night for him in SX on a new bike.

I've been willing to cut Mike some slack in the past for the injuries, the Dad, the bad luck, the switching of bikes, but at MEC, it is my opinion that he acted like a fool with that crap he pulled with Dungey. That makes me a lot less forgiving of all of his issues and at this point, I would say you can stick a fork in him. He gave up a factory ride, then whines that he has to pay to ride. Well, who was the dummy that jumped ship, even if you didn;t like it, you would have gotten the benefit of getting a copy of Dungey's new bike. If the 350 thing didn't work out, at least you would have had the best bike that KTM is going to put out this year. Stupid move. If you want to try and do your own team (which I really don't think the Alessi's have the financial where with all to do), you could have bought yourself another year to get the details down.

A LOT of opinions on here, but I'm gonna throw my two cents on the matter: As much as this might make a LOT of you cringe on here, I think he'd do well w/ training w/ Ryan Hughes. He'd get him on top of his game physically and perhaps improve his mental game as well. Yes, he's on a new bike, but he is familiar w/ the platform (Suzuki) so getting the bike setup shouldn't have been an issue. Honestly, even w/ his SNAFU in regards to Dungey this weekend at the MEC, I still would like to see him succeed. Don't think he's a bad person, just made some bad decisions...hope he can pull it together and put in a good showing in 2012.

I hope he gets if figured out soon and there is a spot on the Yosh/Zook team so my fingers are crossed for him. i think Metty and him will push each other well enough to make them both better/faster.

He's still the best starter in the game and shows alot of passion. So what, why should he move over for anyone.

Mike Alessi needs.............a brain.