VOL. 49 ISSUE 29 JULY 24, 2012 P35 Mike Alessi (800) and
Ryan Dungey (5) spent much of the first 450 moto this close.
Briefly...
For Mike Alessi, his first-moto win at Washougal ended a two- year-plus winless drought. His last win came in the second moto of the Hangtown National on May 22, 2010. Riding a KTM 350 SX- F, Alessi took the win ahead of Honda-mounted Davi Millsaps and Kawasaki pilot Chad Reed. Alessi's moto victory at Washougal was also the first win ever for the Spokane- based MotoConcept team.
DUNGEY, STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY KIT PALMER
ougal National Motocross in Washington, Mike Alessi admitted afterwards that he knew going into the second moto, with the overall win on the line, that he simply didn't have it in him to go that fast a second time. And he was right. All he could do was watch Dungey ride off with the second, tie-breaking-moto win and with it the overall victory. Alessi had to be satisfied going 1-2 for second overall.
A
fter recording his first outdoor victory in two years fol- lowing a heroic battle with 450-class points leader Ryan Dungey in the opening moto at the Peterson CAT Wash-
ALESSI SPICE IT UP
RYAN DUNGEY OUTLASTS A FIRED-UP MIKE ALESSI AT WASHOUGAL.
It was announced at Washougal that 2011 250 National MX Champion Dean Wilson had signed with the DNA Energy/Jeff Ward Racing/Ka- wasaki team for 2013. But accord- ing to team owner Jeff Ward, the deal hasn't been signed just yet. "But it's looking good," Ward said. "We still have some things to work out, but it's coming along. Wilson wants to ride a 450 next year; he's getting a little big for a 250 now, and we know we can supply him with everything he needs. Right now, I feel we're doing pretty good [with riders Kyle
Chisholm and
Josh Grant] and we've been doing everything on our own." Currently, the JWR Team is 100 percent pri- vate (in other words, no factory support, but Ward has never asked for it, either), but Ward is hoping that will change a bit for next year. The team's deal with DNA Energy will also expire at the end of the season so expect a new title spon- sor for the team next year.
Speaking of the JWR Team, Kyle Chisholm enjoyed his best ride of the season. He started off 14th in both 450 motos but moved for- ward both times. He ended up go- ing 8-10 for seventh overall. And continued on next page
