Mike Alessi Joins The GDR Honda Team

Flatliner
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Flatliner 2/12/2019 12:44pm
2/12/2019 12:44pm
Leedle wrote:
Phillip_Lamb wrote:
he won a lot which i would argue isnt the same as being faster. Mike had, essentially a factory honda cr85, while the team green bikes...
he won a lot which i would argue isnt the same as being faster. Mike had, essentially a factory honda cr85, while the team green bikes were a level below as far as equipment. Mike also was very strong at holeshots and in a 5 lap race, if you get a 10th place start, and the guy who gets out from puts down a lot of room in between that 5 laps just isnt going to allow you to catch up.

Now in a 30 min moto, when you have 12-15 laps....

Ryan also, in having to work harder to win, and work through the pack, developed skills that, when given more time to get up front he can cut through the pack and pass for the win. Go watch 2009 Glen Helen, it was what always happened in amatuers except they had 30 min instead of 5 laps. Mike holeshot, had a sizeable lead and villopoto caught him late in the race to pass for the win
xr70 wrote:
Yea , RV was on bad ass PC Kawasaki and Mike on that POS no link KTM . I thin that was the biggest mistake they...
Yea , RV was on bad ass PC Kawasaki and Mike on that POS no link KTM . I thin that was the biggest mistake they took the KTM ride. Mike last his confidence and it was hard to bring it back. Just watch some of the old races and u can tell that the KTM was not working for Mike . RV was like on pillows and Mike was getting pounded like crazy.
I feel like at that time they didn’t have a lot of options, given how much the family was a package deal.

At the end of the day he still had a “good” career and probably made a fair bit of money all said and done.
2
mx546
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mx546 2/12/2019 12:48pm
2/12/2019 12:48pm

I have been watching Mike ride the Honda for about a month he looks great on the Honda!
10
Texas Built
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Texas Built 2/12/2019 1:02pm
2/12/2019 1:02pm
Why dont he race in the US?
mattyhamz2 2/12/2019 1:03pm
2/12/2019 1:03pm
Phillip_Lamb wrote:
he won a lot which i would argue isnt the same as being faster. Mike had, essentially a factory honda cr85, while the team green bikes...
he won a lot which i would argue isnt the same as being faster. Mike had, essentially a factory honda cr85, while the team green bikes were a level below as far as equipment. Mike also was very strong at holeshots and in a 5 lap race, if you get a 10th place start, and the guy who gets out from puts down a lot of room in between that 5 laps just isnt going to allow you to catch up.

Now in a 30 min moto, when you have 12-15 laps....

Ryan also, in having to work harder to win, and work through the pack, developed skills that, when given more time to get up front he can cut through the pack and pass for the win. Go watch 2009 Glen Helen, it was what always happened in amatuers except they had 30 min instead of 5 laps. Mike holeshot, had a sizeable lead and villopoto caught him late in the race to pass for the win
xr70 wrote:
Yea , RV was on bad ass PC Kawasaki and Mike on that POS no link KTM . I thin that was the biggest mistake they...
Yea , RV was on bad ass PC Kawasaki and Mike on that POS no link KTM . I thin that was the biggest mistake they took the KTM ride. Mike last his confidence and it was hard to bring it back. Just watch some of the old races and u can tell that the KTM was not working for Mike . RV was like on pillows and Mike was getting pounded like crazy.
Flatliner wrote:
I feel like at that time they didn’t have a lot of options, given how much the family was a package deal. At the end of...
I feel like at that time they didn’t have a lot of options, given how much the family was a package deal.

At the end of the day he still had a “good” career and probably made a fair bit of money all said and done.
I still believe Mike should have had a better career.

I do wonder how much it held him back that Mike came as a package deal. Usually at a certain point the family steps back or the rider asks them to step back. Nothing against Tony or Jeff at all! Just wonder if Mike going out on his own would have resulted in an even better career. Maybe it would have been worse. We'll never know.
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mxer15
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mxer15 2/12/2019 1:11pm
2/12/2019 1:11pm
I agree Mike should have had a better career but like I said earlier he resorted to dirty riding ask Brick Tickle or goggle it 2014 supercross. And just one of many examples and had that crap happen to me racing the vet class at Etown so always have hated dirty riders
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mattyhamz2 2/12/2019 1:20pm
2/12/2019 1:20pm
mxer15 wrote:
I agree Mike should have had a better career but like I said earlier he resorted to dirty riding ask Brick Tickle or goggle it 2014...
I agree Mike should have had a better career but like I said earlier he resorted to dirty riding ask Brick Tickle or goggle it 2014 supercross. And just one of many examples and had that crap happen to me racing the vet class at Etown so always have hated dirty riders
Don't forget what he did to that jump that Decotis was doing at that local race. Jimmy was the only guy doing it in the first moto and on the parade lap before the second moto Mike spun his rear tire to ruin the takeoff. I remember Jimmy's post on IG about it. Mike made some bad decisions at times in his career. Overall I think he's a good dude that was so use to winning as an amateur and wanted to win at the pro level so badly that sometimes he didn't think before acting, ie the Tickle incident.
Jimmy638
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Jimmy638 2/12/2019 1:26pm
2/12/2019 1:26pm
motomike894 wrote:
The one year on the Suzuki I think maybe 2011 or 2012, if he wouldn't have got hurt that was his title, he was smoking everyone...
The one year on the Suzuki I think maybe 2011 or 2012, if he wouldn't have got hurt that was his title, he was smoking everyone the first 2 rounds.
Remember a guy named Tomac doing the same, That "IF" Monster has takin out a few good riders
Forty
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Forty 2/12/2019 1:33pm
2/12/2019 1:33pm
Always enjoyed watching him out doors. Good to hear he is still racing. Boy has skills...
1
Titan1
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Titan1 2/12/2019 1:58pm
2/12/2019 1:58pm
mxer15 wrote:
I agree Mike should have had a better career but like I said earlier he resorted to dirty riding ask Brick Tickle or goggle it 2014...
I agree Mike should have had a better career but like I said earlier he resorted to dirty riding ask Brick Tickle or goggle it 2014 supercross. And just one of many examples and had that crap happen to me racing the vet class at Etown so always have hated dirty riders
mattyhamz2 wrote:
Don't forget what he did to that jump that Decotis was doing at that local race. Jimmy was the only guy doing it in the first...
Don't forget what he did to that jump that Decotis was doing at that local race. Jimmy was the only guy doing it in the first moto and on the parade lap before the second moto Mike spun his rear tire to ruin the takeoff. I remember Jimmy's post on IG about it. Mike made some bad decisions at times in his career. Overall I think he's a good dude that was so use to winning as an amateur and wanted to win at the pro level so badly that sometimes he didn't think before acting, ie the Tickle incident.
https://www.vitalmx.com/forums/Moto-Related,20/Alessi-Shenanigans,12772…
Phillip_Lamb
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Phillip_Lamb 2/12/2019 2:12pm
2/12/2019 2:12pm
xr70 wrote:
Yea , RV was on bad ass PC Kawasaki and Mike on that POS no link KTM . I thin that was the biggest mistake they...
Yea , RV was on bad ass PC Kawasaki and Mike on that POS no link KTM . I thin that was the biggest mistake they took the KTM ride. Mike last his confidence and it was hard to bring it back. Just watch some of the old races and u can tell that the KTM was not working for Mike . RV was like on pillows and Mike was getting pounded like crazy.
Flatliner wrote:
I feel like at that time they didn’t have a lot of options, given how much the family was a package deal. At the end of...
I feel like at that time they didn’t have a lot of options, given how much the family was a package deal.

At the end of the day he still had a “good” career and probably made a fair bit of money all said and done.
mattyhamz2 wrote:
I still believe Mike should have had a better career. I do wonder how much it held him back that Mike came as a package deal...
I still believe Mike should have had a better career.

I do wonder how much it held him back that Mike came as a package deal. Usually at a certain point the family steps back or the rider asks them to step back. Nothing against Tony or Jeff at all! Just wonder if Mike going out on his own would have resulted in an even better career. Maybe it would have been worse. We'll never know.
in recent interviews Tony talked about their move to KTM. in 2004 they were supposed to start millville on the 250 but mike had been riding the 450 a lot. Honda and them didnt agree and the relationship soured. They also had a chance to test the KTM 250sxf that was being ran in GPs and it was way ahead in the power department over honda. But the bike wasnt really developed for SX yet and Mikes skills for supercross were behind

what really held them back is at that time in history, training for sx in amateurs was non existent, so they worked to have a dominant amateur career. it just didnt translate into professional racing including SX
3
crockett
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crockett 2/12/2019 2:29pm
2/12/2019 2:29pm
anyone remember an interview with Kdub, he said they were at a photo shoot for honda when alessi was just getting on big bikes and after a few laps MA told Kdub it would be faster if he would just jump through the whoops, Kdub made it clear in the interview what he thought about that advice
1
nage0139 2/12/2019 2:37pm
2/12/2019 2:37pm
One of the best starters in history. We used to bet on the holeshot every race. The two options were 1) Alessi or 2) Anyone else. Option 1 won a lot.
2
Phillip_Lamb
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Phillip_Lamb 2/12/2019 3:13pm
2/12/2019 3:13pm


Believe...
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JRT812
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JRT812 2/12/2019 3:37pm
2/12/2019 3:37pm
Phillip_Lamb wrote:
he won a lot which i would argue isnt the same as being faster. Mike had, essentially a factory honda cr85, while the team green bikes...
he won a lot which i would argue isnt the same as being faster. Mike had, essentially a factory honda cr85, while the team green bikes were a level below as far as equipment. Mike also was very strong at holeshots and in a 5 lap race, if you get a 10th place start, and the guy who gets out from puts down a lot of room in between that 5 laps just isnt going to allow you to catch up.

Now in a 30 min moto, when you have 12-15 laps....

Ryan also, in having to work harder to win, and work through the pack, developed skills that, when given more time to get up front he can cut through the pack and pass for the win. Go watch 2009 Glen Helen, it was what always happened in amatuers except they had 30 min instead of 5 laps. Mike holeshot, had a sizeable lead and villopoto caught him late in the race to pass for the win
xr70 wrote:
Yea , RV was on bad ass PC Kawasaki and Mike on that POS no link KTM . I thin that was the biggest mistake they...
Yea , RV was on bad ass PC Kawasaki and Mike on that POS no link KTM . I thin that was the biggest mistake they took the KTM ride. Mike last his confidence and it was hard to bring it back. Just watch some of the old races and u can tell that the KTM was not working for Mike . RV was like on pillows and Mike was getting pounded like crazy.
mattyhamz2 wrote:
Word from someone that worked with Mike in the past, Mike did everything opposite of everyone else when it came to bike setup. When on Suzuki...
Word from someone that worked with Mike in the past, Mike did everything opposite of everyone else when it came to bike setup. When on Suzuki with Chad, whatever Chad did to the bike and said fixed the issues, Mike went the opposite way and usually the wrong way.
Sounds like a Tony thing haha. I always viewed Mike as someone who didn’t make any decision other than deciding to say yes to whatever Tony said do. Probably way
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kijen
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kijen 2/12/2019 3:40pm
2/12/2019 3:40pm
I forget what year it was but Mike was the only guy keeping Stewart honest outdoors.
1
mattyhamz2 2/12/2019 3:44pm
2/12/2019 3:44pm
xr70 wrote:
Yea , RV was on bad ass PC Kawasaki and Mike on that POS no link KTM . I thin that was the biggest mistake they...
Yea , RV was on bad ass PC Kawasaki and Mike on that POS no link KTM . I thin that was the biggest mistake they took the KTM ride. Mike last his confidence and it was hard to bring it back. Just watch some of the old races and u can tell that the KTM was not working for Mike . RV was like on pillows and Mike was getting pounded like crazy.
mattyhamz2 wrote:
Word from someone that worked with Mike in the past, Mike did everything opposite of everyone else when it came to bike setup. When on Suzuki...
Word from someone that worked with Mike in the past, Mike did everything opposite of everyone else when it came to bike setup. When on Suzuki with Chad, whatever Chad did to the bike and said fixed the issues, Mike went the opposite way and usually the wrong way.
JRT812 wrote:
Sounds like a Tony thing haha. I always viewed Mike as someone who didn’t make any decision other than deciding to say yes to whatever Tony...
Sounds like a Tony thing haha. I always viewed Mike as someone who didn’t make any decision other than deciding to say yes to whatever Tony said do. Probably way
Lol! I have wondered about that!
moscrop940
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moscrop940 2/12/2019 3:46pm
2/12/2019 3:46pm
As mentioned somewhere above, I believe a lot had to do with the fact Mike never really had to work through the pack in his amateur days....I mean the guy was just an absolute machine and would just pull away 99.99% of the time

I always wonder what would have been had Tony held mike back on the starting gates for a 10 Mississippi just to learn how to work through a crowd on a consistent basis
1
mattyhamz2 2/12/2019 3:46pm
2/12/2019 3:46pm
kijen wrote:
I forget what year it was but Mike was the only guy keeping Stewart honest outdoors.
That was the year he knocked himself out and got ran over at RedBud.. He was so fast that year.
1

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Motoxdoc
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Motoxdoc 2/12/2019 4:09pm
2/12/2019 4:09pm
Am I the only one who isn't familiar with GDR?
1
-MAVERICK-
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-MAVERICK- 2/12/2019 4:11pm
2/12/2019 4:11pm
Motoxdoc wrote:
Am I the only one who isn't familiar with GDR?
GDR also known as Gopher Dunes Racing.

Honda Canada Team.

Won the outdoor title last year with Colton Facciotti.
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Potts
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Potts 2/12/2019 5:26pm
2/12/2019 5:26pm Edited Date/Time 2/12/2019 5:35pm
Boy... where do you start with the Alessi family? The past has so many examples of the dirty ways Mike rides I'm sure everyone is happy when he's not on the starting line:

https://youtu.be/NeFiwGDE_w0

https://youtu.be/fW10-GfsFew
14
hamncheeze
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hamncheeze 2/12/2019 5:36pm
2/12/2019 5:36pm
With Smart Top coming on to sponsor GDR I wonder if they'll take Friese back up north? I'm sure there's still a few Quebecqois who would like to have another shot at lynching him for the BS with Benoit in 2014 Laughing
GPR245
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GPR245 2/12/2019 5:51pm
2/12/2019 5:51pm
hamncheeze wrote:
With Smart Top coming on to sponsor GDR I wonder if they'll take Friese back up north? I'm sure there's still a few Quebecqois who would...
With Smart Top coming on to sponsor GDR I wonder if they'll take Friese back up north? I'm sure there's still a few Quebecqois who would like to have another shot at lynching him for the BS with Benoit in 2014 Laughing
Team is set with 4 riders,

Facciotti and Alessi MX1

Wright and Tricco MX2

I'm assuming Smart Top came on board as a way to pay for Mike. I know his bike will be a MCR bike adorned with GDR graphics/parts.
2
824 Dad
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824 Dad 2/12/2019 5:55pm
2/12/2019 5:55pm Edited Date/Time 2/12/2019 6:27pm
Glad to hear Mike secured a new ride and I agree he races for the love of the sport.
My son raced a bunch with Mike and Jeff from 2001 through 2004 and would have bet almost everything I have that he would have won a bunch of championships when he turned pro....
Really odd how he didn’t do that and RV did, Mike always dominated him in the amateur ranks.
I bought one of mikes last amateur 250f’s for my son to try out. The difference of his bike to ours was privateer equipment to factory equipment
2
Lightning78
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Lightning78 2/12/2019 7:34pm
2/12/2019 7:34pm
Phillip_Lamb wrote:
he won a lot which i would argue isnt the same as being faster. Mike had, essentially a factory honda cr85, while the team green bikes...
he won a lot which i would argue isnt the same as being faster. Mike had, essentially a factory honda cr85, while the team green bikes were a level below as far as equipment. Mike also was very strong at holeshots and in a 5 lap race, if you get a 10th place start, and the guy who gets out from puts down a lot of room in between that 5 laps just isnt going to allow you to catch up.

Now in a 30 min moto, when you have 12-15 laps....

Ryan also, in having to work harder to win, and work through the pack, developed skills that, when given more time to get up front he can cut through the pack and pass for the win. Go watch 2009 Glen Helen, it was what always happened in amatuers except they had 30 min instead of 5 laps. Mike holeshot, had a sizeable lead and villopoto caught him late in the race to pass for the win
xr70 wrote:
Yea , RV was on bad ass PC Kawasaki and Mike on that POS no link KTM . I thin that was the biggest mistake they...
Yea , RV was on bad ass PC Kawasaki and Mike on that POS no link KTM . I thin that was the biggest mistake they took the KTM ride. Mike last his confidence and it was hard to bring it back. Just watch some of the old races and u can tell that the KTM was not working for Mike . RV was like on pillows and Mike was getting pounded like crazy.
mattyhamz2 wrote:
Word from someone that worked with Mike in the past, Mike did everything opposite of everyone else when it came to bike setup. When on Suzuki...
Word from someone that worked with Mike in the past, Mike did everything opposite of everyone else when it came to bike setup. When on Suzuki with Chad, whatever Chad did to the bike and said fixed the issues, Mike went the opposite way and usually the wrong way.
I always felt he had such a rigid slightly awkward riding style ....it seemed so "technique" and rickety vs just flowing with the bike as one. I feel that was one of his biggest detriments to finding that extra 1% tick that would've had him beating guys like RV and RD a lot more than every once in a while
Moto520
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Moto520 2/12/2019 7:51pm
2/12/2019 7:51pm
I’d really like to see allessi make an ama comeback. He’d be pretty popular
2
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Phillip_Lamb
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Phillip_Lamb 2/12/2019 8:58pm
2/12/2019 8:58pm
824 Dad wrote:
Glad to hear Mike secured a new ride and I agree he races for the love of the sport. My son raced a bunch with Mike...
Glad to hear Mike secured a new ride and I agree he races for the love of the sport.
My son raced a bunch with Mike and Jeff from 2001 through 2004 and would have bet almost everything I have that he would have won a bunch of championships when he turned pro....
Really odd how he didn’t do that and RV did, Mike always dominated him in the amateur ranks.
I bought one of mikes last amateur 250f’s for my son to try out. The difference of his bike to ours was privateer equipment to factory equipment
it is a bummer he never connected. He had a real shot a couple of years. a few bad finishes kept him from winning 2005, 2006 RV was just solid and if mike didnt start up front he was in trouble. 2007 and 2009 were real shots for the 450 class too.
Moto Obsessed 2/13/2019 1:33pm
2/13/2019 1:33pm
So, who will finish better overall in the Canadian Nationals series this summer - Mike, or Broc? Whistling Whistling Whistling
-MAVERICK-
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-MAVERICK- 2/13/2019 2:21pm
2/13/2019 2:21pm
Moto Obsessed wrote:
So, who will finish better overall in the Canadian Nationals series this summer - Mike, or Broc? Whistling Whistling Whistling
Colton Wink

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