Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128140
CCElCMC Anaheim Amateur Supercross (Left) Honda's Mike Alessi looked a little strange on this CR125, but his competition didn't think so. Alessi grabbed the 125cc Intennediate holeshot, fell In the first tum, then worked his way back through the pack for the win. (Below) Yamahamounted Elizabeth Bash (33) topped the Women's class after passing holeshot artist Sherri Cruse on the first lap. Division Two event. This was one of the events that was to be started as a Al'lAHEIM, CA, JAN. 20 second wave, but when one of the he turnout for the first-ever 125cc Pros from the first wave got q CCE/CMC Amateur Supercross stuck in the gate, the Intermediates something to see. More than were handed their own entire race, 1000 riders signed up in the days which may have affected the outbefore the event was to be held, and come. many more were allowed to postOn the start, 13-year-old Mike Alessi enter that morning, and, to say the grabbed the holeshot on his FMF-sponleast, the CMC and CCE people were sored CR 125, and then, in much the a bit unprepared. For a rundown of style of James Stewart the night before, the reasons things went foul at the promptly fell in the first tum. event, check out the column on page "I came into the first corner a little 75 of this issue. fast and slid a little bit, and then I hit For those who hung around after a Tuff Block and fell over: Alessi the difficulties of the morning and said. "Then I was last and had to early afternoon, this event turned out work my way up." to be almost unanimously considered He started right away. While a lot of fun. YZ250F riders Nick Hernandez and "It's a little sloppy, but it's going to Miller battled up front, Alessi was be fun, to say the least," said 19working his way through the pack. In year-old 125cc Intermediate rider comparison, he made Ricky Adam Miller. "It's just a new experiCarmichael look like a giant aboard his ence. I mean, that's basically the reaHonda, but Alessi was easily the son I did it, just because how many smoothest, fastest, most consistent times do you get to go into Anaheim rider on the track. When he attempted Stadium and check it out? So it's to pass Jason Jeffery for third, Jeffery cool. How many times do you get to tried to take Alessi wide and block ride and look up into the seats from a him, but the diminutive 125cc pilot just rider's perspective?" patiently waited up high on the berm That's a good point, and once and shot under Jeffery and into third. they got the 54(!) scheduled races It wasn't long until Miller made the under way, things ran quite smoothpass for the lead on Hernandez before Iy, with only the occasional firstthe finish and began to stretch his wave, first-turn crash holding up the lead as Alessi began pressuring Hersecond wave from starting, and nandez for second. Hernandez tried thusly giving the second wave their the same move on Alessi as Jeffery own race. had, with the same result, and Alessi One of the most exciting races of gave chase to Miller on the last lap. It the day was the 125cc Intermediate appeared as though Miller had plenty n • _ s 30 FEBRUARY 6. 2002' D U D I e BY STEVE J:..s Cox of cushion to keep Alessi at bay and win his first race inside Edison Field, but he stalled his thumper with four turns left in the race and handed the lead - and the win - to Alessi, who did a one-hander over the finish line before taking a look at his scraped-up right arm. Hernandez inherited second, while Cody Hertel rode a quiet race for third, Jeffery finished fourth and Miller rounded out the top five. "I had to do a lot of block-passes," Alessi said of his charge to the front. He has reportedly only been riding 125s for about three months. Alessi was perfect on the day, also winning the 80cc (12-13) Division One class over his 12-year-old brother Jeff, the 80cc Open class and the 80cc Supermini class. Other winners included Elizabeth Bash, who took the women to school on her way to a seemingly easy win on her YZ125; Jared Thinger, who absolutely dominated the 50cc (7-8) class on his Cobra; and Steve Pi attoni, who not only won the over 40 Master class, but also finished third in the over 30 Intermediate class on his CRF450R behind Mark Howell and Paul Cortez. eN Edison International Field Anaheim, california Results: January 20, 2002 P/W BEG: 1. Zach Warnock (KTM): 2. Ryan Gilly (Pol); 3. Maison Carey (KTM); 4. Alex Darrah (Hen); 5. Ian Marshall (KTM). P/W (4-6): 1. Zachary Commans (KTM): 2. Moo Kastari (Lem). P/W (7-8): 1. Jared Thinger (Cob); 2. A.J. Laurel (Cob): 3. Ryan Nobles (Pol); 4. Michael Rucker (KTM): 5. Paul Nelson (Cob). 60 BEG: 1. Brennan Towle (Kaw); 2. Steven Tokarski (K8W); 3. James Hill (Kaw); 4. Mills Tedder (Kaw); 5. Dillon Kuntz (Kaw). 60 (0-8): 1. Nicholas McMillen (KTM); 2. Austin Politelli (Kaw); 3. Jacoc Pischke (Kaw); 4. Brandon Scharer (Kaw). Chris Plouffe and his dad, Roger, stand waiting to get on the Anaheim Ama1eur Supercross track. They definitely weren't the only ones.