Temecula, CA. Though Mother Nature thrashed the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL, she couldn’t hold back MotoConcepts Racing (MCR) as the team stormed to their best overall team effort of 2012, which included three top ten results.
The DAYTONA Supercross by Honda was the 10th event of the 2012 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Series as well as the only non-Feld Motorsports-promoted
race. As such, it has a unique look and feel from the rest of the
series, often including copious amounts of rain and a lot of mud due to
the location and the lack of a protective dome. Though not as bad as
the worst years on record for Daytona, this year did feature plenty of
rain and mud – mud that was as slippery as greased pig snot.
race. As such, it has a unique look and feel from the rest of the
series, often including copious amounts of rain and a lot of mud due to
the location and the lack of a protective dome. Though not as bad as
the worst years on record for Daytona, this year did feature plenty of
rain and mud – mud that was as slippery as greased pig snot.
For the first time this year, MCR fielded a complete four-rider team; Mike Alessi and Jeff Alessi on the big-motored MCR bikes with the on-fire Jake Canada and Tommy Weeck,
who was making his first real appearance of the season after being
sidelined for several events with injuries, in the East Coast Lites
class.
who was making his first real appearance of the season after being
sidelined for several events with injuries, in the East Coast Lites
class.
Timed
qualifying was a messy affair, with seemingly more dirt on the riders
by the end of their sessions than was left on the track. Once again,
Canada led the entire team by qualifying in 10th position while Mike
Alessi clocked in at 13th place. Next up leader board was Tommy Weeck,
nabbing 18th fastest, with Jeff Alessi pushing his way into a
mud-splattered 32nd position.
qualifying was a messy affair, with seemingly more dirt on the riders
by the end of their sessions than was left on the track. Once again,
Canada led the entire team by qualifying in 10th position while Mike
Alessi clocked in at 13th place. Next up leader board was Tommy Weeck,
nabbing 18th fastest, with Jeff Alessi pushing his way into a
mud-splattered 32nd position.
In
his heat, Jake Canada came charging hard out of the start, coming
around the first turn among the leaders. He then proceeded to set a
pace that would leave him with a 2nd place finish by race end – a career
best for Jake. And his great result was certainly no fluke as he
posted the 2nd fastest time in the race, just a shade off of Pro Circuit star Blake Baggett and
almost four seconds a lap faster than his next closest competitor.
Tommy Weeck also moved on to the main with 8th position in the same
heat, a result that was certainly commendable, given that it was Tommy’s
first competitive race of the year.
his heat, Jake Canada came charging hard out of the start, coming
around the first turn among the leaders. He then proceeded to set a
pace that would leave him with a 2nd place finish by race end – a career
best for Jake. And his great result was certainly no fluke as he
posted the 2nd fastest time in the race, just a shade off of Pro Circuit star Blake Baggett and
almost four seconds a lap faster than his next closest competitor.
Tommy Weeck also moved on to the main with 8th position in the same
heat, a result that was certainly commendable, given that it was Tommy’s
first competitive race of the year.
Jeff
Alessi was first up in the Supercross class heats. After a decent
start, Jeff was hanging tough and fast in a solid transfer position,
right up until his machine sucked water into the engine and, after that,
Jeff was literally stuck in the mud.
Alessi was first up in the Supercross class heats. After a decent
start, Jeff was hanging tough and fast in a solid transfer position,
right up until his machine sucked water into the engine and, after that,
Jeff was literally stuck in the mud.
Mike
Alessi had an eventful heat race. It began with an excellent start
followed by a determined and an immediate attention-grabbing pass
attempt on the current series leader, Ryan Villopoto.
However, the physics of the friction-lacking super-saturated track
conspired to thwart MA800’s run to the front, sending him all over the
track like Ted Kennedy driving over the Chappaquiddick Bridge. Needless
to say, by the time Mike remounted, he was far back in the pack and a
direct transfer to the main looking unlikely. But as in weeks past this
season, Mr. Alessi put his head down and made things happen, moving up
to 8th place by the checkered and on to what would be a rain-shortened
16 lap main.
Alessi had an eventful heat race. It began with an excellent start
followed by a determined and an immediate attention-grabbing pass
attempt on the current series leader, Ryan Villopoto.
However, the physics of the friction-lacking super-saturated track
conspired to thwart MA800’s run to the front, sending him all over the
track like Ted Kennedy driving over the Chappaquiddick Bridge. Needless
to say, by the time Mike remounted, he was far back in the pack and a
direct transfer to the main looking unlikely. But as in weeks past this
season, Mr. Alessi put his head down and made things happen, moving up
to 8th place by the checkered and on to what would be a rain-shortened
16 lap main.
After
Jeff Alessi’s moisture-ladened engine rebelled against his best efforts
in the Last Chance Qualifier, leaving him with nothing to do but root
his teammates on in the finales, it was time for a slice of championship
point’s pie for his teammates.
Jeff Alessi’s moisture-ladened engine rebelled against his best efforts
in the Last Chance Qualifier, leaving him with nothing to do but root
his teammates on in the finales, it was time for a slice of championship
point’s pie for his teammates.
In
the Lites main, Jake Canada blasted out of the gate in the lead group,
clocking in on the first lap in 6th place, the same position he would
take at the checkered after another stellar and mistake-free ride.
Meanwhile, Tommy Weeck didn’t get near the start that Jake did and had
to work his way around sloppy soup with a sense of purpose, which he
did, pushing his way into the top ten at the final flag.
the Lites main, Jake Canada blasted out of the gate in the lead group,
clocking in on the first lap in 6th place, the same position he would
take at the checkered after another stellar and mistake-free ride.
Meanwhile, Tommy Weeck didn’t get near the start that Jake did and had
to work his way around sloppy soup with a sense of purpose, which he
did, pushing his way into the top ten at the final flag.
Next
up was Mike Alessi, the team’s lone representative in the big bike
main. After another awful jump off the start in what has been an all
too frequent and mysterious occurrence in 2012, Mike found himself deep
in the pack. Doing the best he could in the adverse conditions, he
picked off a handful of riders on the first lap alone, finding himself
in 11th place. Continuing with his never give-up attitude that has been
on frequent parade this year, Mike passed riders all the way up to the
checkered flag, battling to a hard-fought 6th overall while earning his
second best finish of the year.
up was Mike Alessi, the team’s lone representative in the big bike
main. After another awful jump off the start in what has been an all
too frequent and mysterious occurrence in 2012, Mike found himself deep
in the pack. Doing the best he could in the adverse conditions, he
picked off a handful of riders on the first lap alone, finding himself
in 11th place. Continuing with his never give-up attitude that has been
on frequent parade this year, Mike passed riders all the way up to the
checkered flag, battling to a hard-fought 6th overall while earning his
second best finish of the year.
The
team now has all five riders in the championship points, with two in
the top ten and two more in the top twenty, making 2012 MCR’s best year
to date so far.
team now has all five riders in the championship points, with two in
the top ten and two more in the top twenty, making 2012 MCR’s best year
to date so far.
To follow the ascent of MotoConcepts Racing and see MotoConcepts products, please go to www.MotoConcepts.com Details of Mike, Jeff, and Tony Alessi’s racing season can be found at www.AlessiRacing.com
ABOUT MotoConcepts & MotoConcepts Racing
MotoConcepts, based in Spokane, WA,
is an innovative manufacturer of Motorsports Accessories designed for
the professional and recreational racer and rider. Products include the
award-winning MotoPad, MotoStand, MotoShelf, MotoStep, MotoBin, and Helmet Hook. For more information visit: www.MotoConcepts.com.
is an innovative manufacturer of Motorsports Accessories designed for
the professional and recreational racer and rider. Products include the
award-winning MotoPad, MotoStand, MotoShelf, MotoStep, MotoBin, and Helmet Hook. For more information visit: www.MotoConcepts.com.
MotoConcepts Racing, of Temecula, CA,
is a Supercross/Motocross race team committed to impeccable sponsor
representation, continuous operations improvement, and ever better
results. 2012 team sponsors include JT Racing USA, FMF Power, Silkolene, We All Ride Clothing and All Balls Racing Bearings.
is a Supercross/Motocross race team committed to impeccable sponsor
representation, continuous operations improvement, and ever better
results. 2012 team sponsors include JT Racing USA, FMF Power, Silkolene, We All Ride Clothing and All Balls Racing Bearings.
3/15/2012 2:15pm
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