Mike Alessi to Miss Out on GP Debut
KTM rider Mike Alessi has been forced to scrap plans for a World Championship debut after injuring his back while training this week.
The teenage American sensation underwent a scan today and although no fractures were revealed, he has trapped nerves and compression of the T2 and T3 vertebrae. The sixteen year old will be unable to ride for three weeks causing him to cancel planned appearances at the Grand Prix of Spain this weekend and the Portuguese round the following week.
Both the Alessi family and KTM are disappointed that Mike can not participate at Bellpuig or Agueda. The original plan was to contest the first three events of the World Championships with Alessi excited about taking on the challenge of GP racing after attending the Grand Prix of Belgium in 2004. However events have conspired to alter the youngster's schedule. Alessi will now concentrate on being fit for the first US National race in May at which he will steer his new KTM SXF.