Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

Pro Cir"'cuit S5cc Mini Invitational Fridoy MOTO 1 (8 lops): I. Christophe Poureel (Kow); 2. Josh Hill (Yom); 3. Mike Alessi (Hon): 4. Seon that it was enough to win him the overall. "I feel like I rode good, and for not E HackJey Jr. (KlIw); 5. Brenden Kea!amekla (Yam); 6. WII Hahn (Hon); 7. Bredy Sheren (Kaw); 8. Justin Sipes (Kow); 9. loch Osborne (S02); 10. Kyle Tobin (Suz); 11. Kyle Cunninghom (Kow); 12. Willy Toth (Suz); 13. Ryon Vlllopoto (Yom). MOTO 2 (8 lops); 1. Alessi: 2. Villopoto; 3. even racing Arenacross or riding supercross, it went real good for me," Alessi said. "I did a lot of testing. We weren't really going to come to this Pourcel; 4. Tobin; 5. Kealamakla; 6. Sheren; 7. Hill; 8. Hackley; 9. Osborne; 10. Hahn; 11. Toth; 12. CunningMm; 13. Sipes. race, but they said three weeks before the race that I was going to be invited, so we started testing. Ever Alessi makes good, but it wasn't easy By STEVE Cox PHOTOS BY STEVE BRUHN LAS VEGAS, NY, OCT. 11-12 F actory Honda's Mike Alessi, riding a brand-new 2003 CR85R, was the favorite to win the Pro Circuit 85cc Mini Invitational at the U.S. Open, and though there were no odds actually offered for the event in the MGM Grand Sports Book, if there had been, his odds likely would have mirrored Ricky Carmichael's. Like Carmichael, the only person who could have stopped Alessi in Las Vegas was himself. And he almost did. More than once. In the first eight-lap race alone, Alessi fell no fewer than five times. But he still finished third. "I got the holeshot, and two corners later I landed on a hay bale and crashed," Alessi said nonchalantly. "And the second lap, I was jumping the doubles coming into the arena, trying to make a pass on Josh [Hill]. and I got real close to him and fell over. And then, the third or fourth lap, me and Zach [Osborne] went down together. And then, the fifth lap, I fell in the whoops - nothing bad; I didn't, like, endo or anything. And then I went out in the back section of the arena, hit a Tuff-Block and fell over again." Each fall caused him to ride harder to catch up, eventually causing him to fall again. The top underdog in the event had to be Josh Villopoto, who has frequently tussled with Alessi. His Saturday MOTO 3 (8 lops); I. Alessl; 2. VIliopoto; 3. HUl; 4. Tobin; 5. Pourcel; 6. Hockley; 7. Sheren; 8. Hahn; 9. Sipes; 10. Cunningham; 11. Kealamakia; 12. Osbome; 13. Toth. MOTO 4 (8 lops); I. Villopoto; 2. Hili; 3. Poureel; 4. Alessi; 5. Tobin; 6. Sheren; 7. Sipes; 8. Hohn; 9. Kealoamakla; 10. Cunninghem; 11. Heckley; 12. Osborne. O/A: 1. I'lIke Alessi (88/2 wins); 2. Christophe since then, we've been testing suspension, motor, jetting, gearing, and just to come out here and win is awe- chances for derailing the Alessi some." freight train ended in the first moto of the weekend, however. "I started on the outside and got a MlM IintDd Iisrde. AntnlI LaaV.... Ntrv.... llnults: Octsbltr 11-12, 2002 bad start, and then I worked my way up," Villopoto said. "By the fourth lap, I was in first, and I think I went another lap and my tranny went out." Villopoto was forced onto his practice bike for. the second moto. "I was riding my practice bike that I've been riding all year, so it was really slow, and I had to clutch it everywhere," he said. "But I think I rode pretty good." Alessi came out swinging in the second moto, dominating from wire to wire, while French import and firstmoto winner Christophe Pourcel finished third, tying him on points with Alessi going into the second day's races. Villopoto rode his practice bike to second. Alessi "rode at 60 percent" in the second and third motos, both of which he won. Pourcel's fifth place in the third race gave Alessi a decent cushion going into the last race. Alessi's rival Villopoto unwittingly helped as well, as his second place in the third mota took valuable points away from Alessi's closest competitors. Villopoto finally got his muchdeserved mota win in the fourth running' after Alessi suffered yet more miscues while leading. "My backup bike ran all right, but it's still not as good as my race bike," Villopoto said. Alessi held on to finish a conservative fourth, secure in the knowledge Pourcel (81/1 win); 3. Josh Hili (78); 4. Ryon Vlllopoto (77/1 win); 5. Kyle Tobin (63); 6. Brody Sheren (58): 7. Seon Hackley Jr. (56); 8. Brendon Keoiomak.io (54); 9. WU Hohn (52); 10. Justin Sipes (47); 11. Kyle CUnninghom (41); 12. loch Osbome (24); 13. Willy Toth (19). eN BRIEFLY. •• This year's u.s. 0 ..... treck was a bit longer than in years past, but that meant It was noticeably tighter as well. Gone was last year's over/under bridge. and this year's start straight crossed the entire arena floor - almost twice as long as last year's much-hated start chute. Pro Circuit 85cc Mini Invitational winner Mike Alessi's little brother Jeff was expected to race alongside his sibling. but recent X-rays revealed a cracked growth plate in his leg - an injury that kept him out of the World Cup before it was diagnosed. The opening ceremonies went a little - no. a lot - overboard in the volume department. as eardrum-bursting exploSIons from floor-based fireworks angered many in attendance - including many of the riders. who were seen covering their ears during rider introductJons every time a blast was about to be set off. just a few feet from where they were mede to stand. KTM Junior Supercross Challenge winner WUl Cestleberry (rightl got to take " - the KTM 50 SX he raced to the overall win as a reward. which begs the question, Aren't all bikes free to kids? The Chevy Trucks Kawasaki driving husband-and-wife team of George and lnone Ellis were awarded the Vintage Iron Ufetime Achievement Award. The father of 1975 Supercross Champion Jimmy Ellis. George drove a box van for his son until his retirement from racing. In 1989. George was contracted to drive American motocross' first 18-wheeler for Team Kawasaki. a job he still possesses today. After Josh Villopoto dropped out of the first Pro Circuit 85cc Mini Invitational moto while leading with a broken transmission. someone mentioned to the Yamaha rider that he thought the blke's chain came off. Villopoto came back with a matter-of-fact. -Well. I think I would've tried to put It Hck on.• Perhaps the biggest disappointment of this year's U.S. Open was the absence of Jeremy McGrath and his would-be debut on the Bud Ught KTM. McGrath was planning on racing. but that got nixed when he dislocated his right hlp a few weeks ago while testing. McGrath did. however, make an appearance Friday night. as floor announcer Terry Boyd interviewed him dUring opening ceremonies. McGrath said the recovery has been going qUicker than expected and he hopes to be back on a bike again In about two weeks. Team Suzuki manager Roger DeCoster chose not to send his team to the U.S. Open this year; after all, two of its three 250cc team members are dinged up - Travis Pastrana and Sebastien Tortelli. Pastrana is still recuperating from his knee injury. and Tortelli Is stili banged up from his heavy crash at the World Cup of Motocross. Newcomer Stephane Roncada is still adjusting to his new Suzuki ride. Sean Hamblin. who will ride one of Suzuki's factory 125cc machines next year. attended the U.S. Open as a spectator. The absence of the Suzuki team was quite obvious over the weekend. as there was only one yellow machine In the 250cc class. ridden by privateer Jeff Willoh. who failed to make the main both nights, Pastrana attended the U.S. Open and provided color commentary from the floor during the freestyle exhibition. The U.S. Open was supposed to have been Steve Lamson's last ride as a member of the Fast By Ferracci Husqvama team. but the follT1er two-time 125cc National champ sat this one out. Lamson said that he .njured his foot before the race and. after riding praclice Fnday afternoon. he decided that he wasn't ready to race. Lamson still participated in the opening ceremonies. Next year. Lamson will join the San Diego-based Escondido Cycle Center Suzuki team. Speaking of Team ECC. longtime Suzuki support rider Shane Bess will reportedly receive backing from the motorcycle retail giant as well. Heath Voss made his debut on hiS new team at the U.S. Open. The longlime Honda rider has joined Nick Wey on the Mach 1 Yamaha team. The Northem Califomia-based cycle shop will reportedly receive some factory support from Yamaha. Ricky CallT1ichael traded hIS traditional (not to mention his favorite) orange-colored Fox riding gear for red. white and blue gear (probably the clothing he would've worn at the MX des Nations) for this year's U.S. Open. After seeing his win streak come to an end Friday night wearing the mostly white stuff. CallT1ichael retumed to his trusty orange gear Saturday night and retumed to his winning ways. Coincidence? (Above) French Import Christophe Pourcel did his best to derail the Alessi freight train, winning the opening moto. However, he had to seWe for second overall. It seems there IS a bit of a factory two-stroke renaissance beginning. as two riders who recently rode factory 450cc thumpers said they'd likely be riding two-stroke 250s full time In 2003. -[The 25O'sl awesome. - said Mike laRocco, who rode a factory Honda CRF450R outdoors this year. "I'm riding the 250 indoors, and I'm not sure about what I'm riding outdoors. Most likely. I'll be on the 250. If the supercross season goes weil with the 250. I'll probably just stick with it." In addition. Chad Reed. who rode a factory VZ450F at the recent World Cup. said. -I'm leaning a bit more toward the two-stroke. It just suits my style a little bit better. and It's a I1ttie easier to ride. so we'll keep working in the off season and see what we can come up with.' There will be more factory-backed part-time 250cc rldera In 2003 than there have been in quite some time. as Amsoil/Doc Martens Honda's Michael Byrne and Travis Preston will alternate coasts on the quarter-liter bike. and Boost MobilelYamahalTroy Racing's Ivan Tedesco will ride the West Coast 250cc rounds as well. cue I • n • _ S • OCTOBER 23. 2002 23

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