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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128399
Kawasaki Team Green Fall National
Steel City
PHOTOS BV TONY SCAVO
STIll Cm'
DEIMOHT, P_-SYlVANIA
Alessis Steal Steel City!
By TONY SCAVO
DELMONT, PA, SEPT. 2
S
unday's Pro motas at the Monster
Energy/Kawasaki National at Steel City
should have been the only locus lor the Alessi
brothers on Labor Day weekend. The two
brothers Irom Apple Valley, Calilornia, need no
introduction, due to their exploits on and off
the track, leading all the way up to their present Pro status and the Steel City National Amateur Days. Yes, you heard right: Amateur Days.
Mike and Jeff Alessi are brothers on a
mission. Most Pro riders who show up at a
National focus their attention on Sunday. But
the A1essis lined up at the gate on Friday lor
the Kawasaki Team Green Fall National so they
could get in some track time and post some
moto wins while they were at it.
Now, why would Mike Alessi, who was
battling lor the 125cc National points lead, still
be racing Amateur Days at Steel City? Maybe
he just loves the track. Steel City is easily one
of the most diverse tracks in elevation change,
and it has a technical blend 01 jumps and 011cambers that can keep even Ricky Carmichael
honest. Or perhaps it was their father, Tony,
cracking that proverbial whip we all keep
hearing about? Either way, it's clear the Alessi
boys, like the rest of us, just love to ride.
And they ride well. Mike scored a I-lover
Vamaha 01 Troy's Brett Metcalle, who went 2-2
in the 125cc A class. The younger Alessi, Jell,
scored 3-3 moto finishes, ahead 01 White Oak,
Pennsylvania's Brian Shuckhart, who finished
strong with a 4-4 score. Shuckhart was AHA
District S's top gun lor the weekend.
Jell Alessi volunteered to hold the
30-second card lor a lew motes on Friday, just
lor the lun 01 it.
Delmont, Pennsylvania, suffered heavy
rainlall in the days leading up to National,
thanks to storm remnants from Hurricane
Katrina. However, the Bellco group that
produces the races at Steel City Raceway
chose to cancel Thursday's racing and close up
the track surface. This led to great conditions
lor the Amateurs on Friday and the Pro group
on Saturday and Sunday.
A few other racing highlights came from
KTM's Zach Osbome, who swept the 125cc
Schoolboy and 125cc B motos, and recent
Loretta Lynn's champion Jacob Hayes, who won
both the 65cc and 85cc (7-1 I) divisions at Steel
City. The 250cc A class belonged to one 01
Suzuki's new Pro talents, Shaun Skinner, who just
edged one 01 Suzuki's oldest riders, Barry
Carsten, to win the 250cc A class. OS's Gaylon
Dickson was in the mix as well. Carsten would
end up with the Ov.,.. 25 and Vet A wins, though.
With all 01 that talent on the track just on
Friday, it makes a strong case to come on out
and race the Kawasaki Team Green Fall
National at Steel City next year. Where else
can you try your luck with some of the best in
the business?
CN
RuulJS: 5IPnMIIR 2, 2005
50 (4.6): I. Vinny Luhovey (KTM); 2. Austin Bryant
(KTM); 3. K)'Ie H _ (KTM); 4. Ramel Kline (Yom); 5. Ethon
Simmon (KTM). 50 (7"): I. Noah SclOCk (KTM); 2. Seth
Huber (Cob); 3. Moccoy Shine (KTM); 4. Shell>; McAn;nch
(KTM); 5. I)e,oo MeG'! (KTM). 50 (<-I): I. Vonny LuhoYey
(KTM); 2. Austin Smith (Cob); 3. Ethan Stmmen (KTM); 4.
Michael Donella Jr. (KTM); S. Cory Carsten (KTM). 65
(7-9): I. 0yIan Kerr (KTM); 2. DaW CIev... (Suz); 3. Connor
Burick (Suz); 4. llnodford Young (KTM); 5. Seth Huber (Kaw).
65 (10-11): I. jacob Hayes (KTM); 2. logon I