Last week, I sat down with two generations of Alessi men: Tony, Mike and Jeff. I talked with Tony about the family’s back-story and how the Alessi’s became who they are today. We all know that all three make their living in the greatest sport on the planet, but outside of that, I have never met three people in a family that were more different. Jeff and Mike are particularly different despite being raised by the same man and competing in the same niche sport.
You may have seen last week’s interview with Tony. It ended with him handing the phone to Mr. #800. Here’s how it went from there:
First of all, thank you for doing this. How’s it going?
I’m doing great! How have you been?
I am loving life. I get to talk to my heroes in the greatest sport on the planet.
That’s awesome!
How do you feel the season is going for you so far?
The season has been going pretty well. It seems to be turning around for me and getting a little better. I have been working a lot with Roger this season, and the bike’s been getting a lot better. I’m really looking forward to the race this weekend in San Diego*.
* Note: Mikey ended up with his best finish of the season so far, a 9th in the Main Event at San Diego.
It is obvious to everyone, like you said, that things are turning around. What has happened in the last few weeks that has brought the #800 we know and love back? You’re not quite where you used to be, but you are definitely getting there.
I think the biggest difference is all of the work that Roger and I have done lately to get my suspension right. A lot of our focus has been on the forks so we can get the bike cornering the way I like. It seems like that is one of the places I’ve been struggling lately. I am really happy at the direction we are heading with the bike, and I’m really enjoying riding it.
Nice. If everything keeps progressing as planned, where do you see yourself finishing by the end of 2011 Supercross?
Well, my main goal is to get through Supercross injury-free. As far as racing, though, I really just want to be smart, run up front with the fast guys and see if I can finish top ten every week.
Do you see yourself in the top five in SX?
I think it is definitely possible. As long as I stay consistent, hit all the jumps and continue to improve in the whoops. Sure, I can see myself in the top five.
The whoops have definitely been an issue for you. Have you been just pounding out whoop practice sessions?
Yeah, I have. Even more, though, it’s been about getting the setup right so I can feel comfortable and confident in them. At the end of the day, that is what really matters.
I have been hearing people say—specifically Roger Decoster in an interview—that you don’t see yourself as a good Supercross racer, that you’re just not comfortable out there. What is your overall feeling about Supercross?
I actually love SX. My overall ability is getting better and my technique in the whoops is beginning to come around for me. One thing for sure is that I really like the 350 for SX. The bike has gotten so much better for me, and like I said, I’m having a blast riding it.
You talk a lot about testing and setup. Are you someone that puts a lot of emphasis on setup?
For SX, for sure. You have to put in your time getting everything right, especially with new technology, like the 350s. We started at ground zero and need to work to get everything better, and overall, we are achieving that goal right now.
Is it true that you have a choice between the 350 and the 450?
Yeah, it is my choice to ride the 350 so that’s what I ride.
What about outdoors? Are you going back to the 450 or are you holding strong with the 350?
That is still undecided at this point. Three or four months is a long way out. For now my focus is on SX and the 350.
I had a few people ask if I could ask you what Ken Roczen is like. Is he fun to have around?
Yeah, Ken’s cool. I love Ken. Being only sixteen, the guy’s full of energy. We’ve all been sixteen once. The guy brings a lot of enthusiasm to the rig and to the track so, in that sense, the guy’s fun to have around.
Well, I really appreciate you talking with MotoXAddicts. I’ll see you in San Diego.
No problem, man. I’ll get Jeff.
Hey, Jeff. Dan Lamb, MotoXAddicts.
Hey. Have we ever met in person before?
(Laughs) I’m asking the questions here, not you, but yeah, we actually met last year at P.I.R. up here in Portland. I’m not someone you would remember. (Laughs) I know your pops, though. We grew up riding at Indian Dunes in SoCal.
(Laughs) Oh God, that place?! I’ve had to hear about Indian Dunes my whole life.
Okay, well I’ll spare you the old campfire stories then. Now can I ask some questions?
Sure, go for it. (Laughs)
Well first off, how’s 2011 going for you?
Not good, man. I’m just disappointed that I’m injured. It’s been affecting me mentally.
What’s that about?
I don’t know, man. It’s just one of those years, I guess. I’m more or less just trying to get through it.
That doesn’t sound good. One thing I noticed while watching you this year is that your speed was right up there with the top ten guys when you were on, but it didn’t last. Is fitness the issue?
Pretty much what you’re seeing out there is just talent. I haven’t been training this year at all. I just haven’t had the time to.
Why? What’s up? Are you moonlighting at another job? (Laughs)
No, no. I’ve just been moving around a lot here.
How do you like your bike this year and your deal with Rock River Yamaha?
Not bad, honestly. Christina Denny is really good. I really like working with her, and she does a great job making sure I have everything I need on the weekend. That, in itself, has really helped me out.
Is your deal with Rock River for Supercross only, or are they taking you outdoors as well?
I may or may not do outdoors, I honestly don’t know what is going to happen for outdoors at this point. All I know is right now I am already paying too much to get to the races. Right now I am paying for all my flights and entry fees. Luckily my team manager lets me stay with her on race weekends or I would have to pay for my rooms. She and her husband are really cool, and we get along real well, so it’s nice. Outdoors, though, is just too much money at this point to do when you don’t make anything back.
Do you like racing outdoors?
To be honest the only way anyone likes racing outdoors is if they’re in great shape. If I was in great shape, I’d do it. Right now I’m just beat up, though.
We all know when you’re on, you’re one of the top twenty riders in the world. We’d all like to see that #801 again. Do you can back strong?
For sure, I am just having a hard time with the privateer stresses right now: the stress of getting to the races, the stress of my bike possibly breaking because I don’t have the right mechanic, the stress of having to pay for everything. Professional racing is not just about getting on your dirt bike and riding. It’s completely different than what it used to be. The way it used to be was enjoyable. You know, I think back to when it was so easy and fun to wake up and go training. Now everything is so complicated that it sometimes doesn’t seem worth the amount of stress that goes with it: stuff like finding a place to practice, making sure your practice bike is good, your team is good, worrying about how you’re even going to pay for it. It can be stressful when you have to deal with all of that.
Yeah, I can totally understand that. Privateer life is not glamorous. Speaking of things that are not fun, though—and I hate to bring this up—what was the deal with the Josh Grant incident this year? Do you even want to talk about it?
No, that’s fine; I can talk about it.
Mike was in front of me. Grant was behind me, and he came in on me to aggressively move me out of his way. I remembered how that went down last time, so I just closed off his line. I feel bad that I ended up hurting the kid, but I don’t feel bad about protecting my line. That’s racing!
The top guys were going two-three to the outside and, then, three in onto that tabletop, but I found it a little more consistent to go two-two to the inside and roll-roll into the corner. From there, I was going step-on, step-off. It was a little faster than going two-three to the outside, landing, going two and then jumping the lip of that tabletop over those two little whoops that went into the right corner.
So it was the line you were taking all night?
Yes, the line I was in was the line I had been taking all night. It was also the beginning of the race. When I’m in fourth or fifth that early in the race, I’m not leaving the door open in any corner. Honestly, though, for him to not think that I was going to cover the inside, and to force the envelope, was pretty stupid. Forcing the issue without thinking caused him to get injured, not me. I mean I don’t like that he got injured, but if he didn’t get injured I would have said that he got what he deserved. Since the kid got injured, though, I feel kind of bad for him. It just wasn’t smart of him to do what he did, but it was his fault, not mine.
I don’t think Grant’s camp is feeling the same way.
Yeah, well, that’s what happens when you force something that’s not there. I don’t have rearview mirrors. He needed to just shut off, but he slammed me, not the other way around. It wasn’t 100% intentional; I’ll tell you that. I’m actually kind of tired of explaining it. I don’t mind explaining it to you because it needs to be out there, but with everyone asking me at the races constantly, it got old. It got to a point where I felt like nobody believed me; everyone thought I did it on purpose.
I heard the AMA got involved for a minute too. What did they say to you?
They totally agreed with me that I was covering my line. My team manager provided them proof that for all the laps I did in the Main I went two-two and then singled into the inside of that turn. Once they saw that, it was obvious to them that it was the line I had used all night. They did come down on me, though, because I jumped to the left. They said jumping from right to left was the problem, and they don’t want riders jumping from right to left. They basically said they don’t care about anything past the landing. Since a rider got hurt because of it, though, they were upset. I was just told not to do that anymore.
What did you think the next day when you read that so many people thought you did it on purpose, saying what happened was obviously payback from past Alessi/Grant run-ins?
Yeah, I read the message boards. It was one of those moments where I had to take a deep breath and say to myself, “Nobody can tell you what you did, no one can say what you did, and, even though they don’t know what happened, God knows what happened.” In the end, that’s all that matters to me.
Thanks for talking about the incident. Hopefully, it clears the air a little. On that note, though, I have kept the Alessi’s long enough. Thank you very much for chatting with me. Get back to the family poker game. I’ll see you in San Diego?
No problem. Yeah, I’ll see you there!
Check back on Thursday for our next interview with Ryan Sipes. In the meantime, you can follow me at @dandunes818 for live race reports, updates and links to my latest interviews and race reports.
