Mike Alessi and Tevin Tapia

Mike Alessi and Tevin Tapia were both doing their first race back after recovering for injuries. Mike had a cracked sternum, while the last we saw of Tevin Tapia was at Glen Helen, where he had a dislocated knee and a torn meniscus.

Mike's bike is now back to Race Tech-modified Showa components, rather than the Öhlins that he had been running.