was mike alessi ktm deal robbed him from many titles?

ktm 125
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ktm 125
Edited Date/Time 9/1/2022 8:13am
ktm back then was not like the jap bikes. apart from an outdated frame they used pds too. depite all these he had some great years and almost won in his debut mx championship. langston had some success with ktm in usa but the field was not so full. and like him or not alessi stayed with ktm for most of his career, so for me hes the biggest what if of the past 20 years. i can only think some french riders who didnt fullfill their potential at this period of time but i believe alessi was better and also more sx prepared!
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resetjet
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resetjet 8/29/2022 4:52pm
8/29/2022 4:52pm
Nope.
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LungButter
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LungButter 8/29/2022 6:10pm
8/29/2022 6:10pm Edited Date/Time 8/29/2022 6:10pm
100%

Change my mind.
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Ramrod
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Ramrod 8/29/2022 6:21pm
8/29/2022 6:21pm
KTM could have been a slight factor but there are many other reasons. This list could be long...

Hindsight is 20/20 of course.
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Dirt.Squirt
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Dirt.Squirt 8/29/2022 6:32pm
8/29/2022 6:32pm
The because is no?

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tuttle425
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tuttle425 8/29/2022 6:46pm
8/29/2022 6:46pm Edited Date/Time 8/29/2022 6:46pm
The guy won 2 450 overalls in his career. I don’t think he was a bike away from multiple titles. He rode Suzuki more than KTM.
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decano51
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decano51 8/29/2022 6:55pm
8/29/2022 6:55pm
He was so over hyped coming in it over shadowed how great of a career he really had. Especialy when you consider who he had to race against.





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hubbardmx50
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hubbardmx50 8/29/2022 6:56pm
8/29/2022 6:56pm
Absolutely. That thing was light years behind Poto's PC bike and Mike rode the shit out of it.
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UpTiTe 8/29/2022 7:04pm
8/29/2022 7:04pm
I’ve said it a hundred times, even to Tony. If Tony would’ve let Mike sign with Honda, and went and worked with Jeff, Mike would’ve won a few titles.
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xr70
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xr70 8/29/2022 7:14pm
8/29/2022 7:14pm
ktm 125 wrote:
ktm back then was not like the jap bikes. apart from an outdated frame they used pds too. depite all these he had some great years...
ktm back then was not like the jap bikes. apart from an outdated frame they used pds too. depite all these he had some great years and almost won in his debut mx championship. langston had some success with ktm in usa but the field was not so full. and like him or not alessi stayed with ktm for most of his career, so for me hes the biggest what if of the past 20 years. i can only think some french riders who didnt fullfill their potential at this period of time but i believe alessi was better and also more sx prepared!
Definitely true, u can see that in some of the old videos, RV is riding like on the pillows with the Procircuit Kawasaki and Mike is bouncing like crazy on that Katum!
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KirkChandler
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KirkChandler 8/29/2022 8:08pm
8/29/2022 8:08pm
He got a 3rd OA in his second ever National in the 450 class. Then almost won moto 2 at Hangtown at his first 250 national, until GL blasted him in the final corner. Then won his second 250 national (4th ever national). He was young and inconsistent, but went into the final moto with a long shot at the title as a rookie, and we all know what happened there. If Deegan came out next week and podiumed behind Sexton and Tomac in the 450 class, people would be losing their shit.

The hype was real. But I remember every other rider riding him tough, “he didn’t party in Temecula”, and they threw an extra elbow every chance they got. It just went off the rails compared to the expectations he had. Also The PC Kawis we’re head and shoulders above every other 250F for several seasons.

5 national wins, series runner up 3 times. It’s and buts on the 09 title where he was looking good after round 3.

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Bow977
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Bow977 8/29/2022 8:11pm
8/29/2022 8:11pm
He should have stayed with Honda. KTM back then wasn’t what it is today, his equipment wasn’t on par with kawi / Honda
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uncledaddy69
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uncledaddy69 8/29/2022 8:12pm
8/29/2022 8:12pm Edited Date/Time 8/30/2022 10:00am
He said on whiskey throttle that the ktm at the time was an absolutely pile. I do think he would have had more success if he were on another bike.
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Forty
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Forty 8/29/2022 8:23pm
8/29/2022 8:23pm
Yeah man. Big fan. He’s had stones since day one.

He is a racer.
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dunndetailedit 8/29/2022 8:26pm
8/29/2022 8:26pm
I got to see Mike and Jeff race there new KTMs for the first time at the end of 2004 at Cycle Ranch in Texas.


ro
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BobbyM
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BobbyM 8/29/2022 8:53pm
8/29/2022 8:53pm
ktm 125 wrote:
ktm back then was not like the jap bikes. apart from an outdated frame they used pds too. depite all these he had some great years...
ktm back then was not like the jap bikes. apart from an outdated frame they used pds too. depite all these he had some great years and almost won in his debut mx championship. langston had some success with ktm in usa but the field was not so full. and like him or not alessi stayed with ktm for most of his career, so for me hes the biggest what if of the past 20 years. i can only think some french riders who didnt fullfill their potential at this period of time but i believe alessi was better and also more sx prepared!
He had his shot on the suzuki but then he jacked his knee during a media shoot at Hi-Point. He had a great chance to win the title that season.
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USA
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USA 8/29/2022 9:01pm
8/29/2022 9:01pm
Thus is fun bench racing and I think Mike could have gotten the 05 and 06 125 championships if he was on Honda, or especially Pro Circuit.

He definitely was looking good in 09, I think he won both motos at Freestone by 30+ seconds. No doubt in my mind he would have won the championship in 09. Hell, he might have been able to do it even after breaking his knee cap. Too bad he got taken out by Josh Grant (In Colorado I think?).
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vanillaice782 8/30/2022 3:17am
8/30/2022 3:17am
UpTiTe wrote:
I’ve said it a hundred times, even to Tony. If Tony would’ve let Mike sign with Honda, and went and worked with Jeff, Mike would’ve won...
I’ve said it a hundred times, even to Tony. If Tony would’ve let Mike sign with Honda, and went and worked with Jeff, Mike would’ve won a few titles.
Why didn't Tony let him? Were they going to forcd tony to step aside if he signed with them?
cwel11
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cwel11 8/30/2022 3:24am
8/30/2022 3:24am Edited Date/Time 8/30/2022 3:25am
UpTiTe wrote:
I’ve said it a hundred times, even to Tony. If Tony would’ve let Mike sign with Honda, and went and worked with Jeff, Mike would’ve won...
I’ve said it a hundred times, even to Tony. If Tony would’ve let Mike sign with Honda, and went and worked with Jeff, Mike would’ve won a few titles.
Ouch, curious to hear his response? Lol
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CrGuy2T
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CrGuy2T 8/30/2022 4:08am
8/30/2022 4:08am
dunndetailedit wrote:
I got to see Mike and Jeff race there new KTMs for the first time at the end of 2004 at Cycle Ranch in Texas.[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/08/29/566240/s1200_DA594D0D_D318_473D_A9D2_55F90F8CA207.jpg[/img] [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2022/08/29/566239/s1200_5A34B7D4_68F9_485C_95C4_4468F4D16348.jpg[/img]...
I got to see Mike and Jeff race there new KTMs for the first time at the end of 2004 at Cycle Ranch in Texas.


ro
Nice pics, there are some fast Texas guys in those pictures.. looks like Rob Locke, James Marshall, Ronnie Jackson, And Ty Conner to name a few..
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Richy
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Richy 8/30/2022 4:16am
8/30/2022 4:16am
KTM at the time was certainly a hindrance. How much of the hype dying off was down to KTM, we'll never know, but I'm interested in where this conversation goes.
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RoflCopter726 8/30/2022 7:10am
8/30/2022 7:10am
CrGuy2T wrote:
Nice pics, there are some fast Texas guys in those pictures.. looks like Rob Locke, James Marshall, Ronnie Jackson, And Ty Conner to name a few..
#66 is Tommy Hahn I believe.
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DunnySeat
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DunnySeat 8/30/2022 7:51am
8/30/2022 7:51am
Mike Alessi robbed Mike Alessi of titles.
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c91x
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c91x 8/30/2022 8:04am
8/30/2022 8:04am
Does anyone remember why they didn't sign with Honda? Was it to sign Jeff to a deal as well?


And I remember that 05/06 250SXF actually being a really good bike back then. I don't think it was as big of a turd as many are thinking.
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FastEddy
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FastEddy 8/30/2022 8:27am
8/30/2022 8:27am
Mike was always a force to be reckoned with no matter what brand he was on.
He's made mistakes just as all racers have and he's still had a very respectable career!
Suffice it to say he's the best starter that the sport has ever seen.
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Boomslang 8/30/2022 8:46am
8/30/2022 8:46am
Didn't Langston win a title on a older KTM?
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FastEddy
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FastEddy 8/30/2022 8:59am
8/30/2022 8:59am Edited Date/Time 8/30/2022 9:12am
Boomslang wrote:
Didn't Langston win a title on a older KTM?
2000 125 FIM MX World Championship
2003 125 AMA MX Championship (KTM's first title in the states)


Also someone I forgot about ... Trampas Parker.
He won a 125 FIM world championship in 1989 on one of the old works KTM 125's.

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DunnySeat
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DunnySeat 8/30/2022 9:05am
8/30/2022 9:05am Edited Date/Time 8/30/2022 9:06am
c91x wrote:
Does anyone remember why they didn't sign with Honda? Was it to sign Jeff to a deal as well? And I remember that 05/06 250SXF actually...
Does anyone remember why they didn't sign with Honda? Was it to sign Jeff to a deal as well?


And I remember that 05/06 250SXF actually being a really good bike back then. I don't think it was as big of a turd as many are thinking.
Hanny almost won a title on it
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UpTiTe 8/30/2022 9:07am
8/30/2022 9:07am
UpTiTe wrote:
I’ve said it a hundred times, even to Tony. If Tony would’ve let Mike sign with Honda, and went and worked with Jeff, Mike would’ve won...
I’ve said it a hundred times, even to Tony. If Tony would’ve let Mike sign with Honda, and went and worked with Jeff, Mike would’ve won a few titles.
vanillaice782 wrote:
Why didn't Tony let him? Were they going to forcd tony to step aside if he signed with them?
Tony wanted them to go in a package deal, Honda only wanted Mike and for Tony stay away.
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McG194
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McG194 8/30/2022 9:35am
8/30/2022 9:35am
tuttle425 wrote:
The guy won 2 450 overalls in his career. I don’t think he was a bike away from multiple titles. He rode Suzuki more than KTM.
Second professional race ever he was on the podium in the premier class. Yeah, he sucked.

https://vault.racerxonline.com/2004-09-05/250mx/steel-city-raceway

If he would have started on little bikes and developed and didn't ride KTM he'd have multiple outdoor titles at the very least.
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MotoCosmo
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MotoCosmo 8/30/2022 9:38am
8/30/2022 9:38am
UpTiTe wrote:
I’ve said it a hundred times, even to Tony. If Tony would’ve let Mike sign with Honda, and went and worked with Jeff, Mike would’ve won...
I’ve said it a hundred times, even to Tony. If Tony would’ve let Mike sign with Honda, and went and worked with Jeff, Mike would’ve won a few titles.
vanillaice782 wrote:
Why didn't Tony let him? Were they going to forcd tony to step aside if he signed with them?
UpTiTe wrote:
Tony wanted them to go in a package deal, Honda only wanted Mike and for Tony stay away.
From the outside looking in you can clearly tell Honda knew the right way to do it and wanted what was in Mike's best interest. From the inside that is a tough sell for an all-in mini dad with two solid amateur kids moving up to the big leagues.
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