Makita Suzuki Signs Mike Alessi
Up-and-coming rider excited to joinmulti-championship-winning team
BREA, Calif., (July 30, 2007) - American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) announced today that TeamMakita Suzuki Racing has signed former amateur champion Mike Alessi to race the all-new MakitaSuzuki RM-Z450 in the AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross series beginning in 2008.
"I could not be more excited about the opportunity to become part of the American Suzuki racingfamily for the 2008/2009 seasons," said Alessi. "The results that Suzuki's racing teams have earned inthe past several years, in all forms of racing in the U.S., speak for themselves. To have the opportunity towork with professionals like Roger DeCoster, Ray Tetherton and the entire team is something I'm reallylooking forward to."
"I will miss working with the wonderful people I've come to know at KTM during the past few years. Asa company, KTM has provided me with a lot of support and has been instrumental in the progress ofmy professional career. I hope that everyone at KTM is as proud of the results I've been able to earn asI am."
The 19-year-old started racing minibikes when he was 3 years old and won dozens of regionalchampionships. After capturing his 11th title at the prestigious AMA Loretta Lynn's Amateur MotocrossChampionship, he turned Pro at age 16 and went on to podium in his second-ever AMA Motocross atSteel City in 2004. A factory ride followed shortly thereafter and, since then, Alessi has more thanproven his mettle in both AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross. The Southern Californian is currentlyfifth overall in AMA Toyota Motocross, thanks to two podium finishes so far this season. In 2006, Alessifinished second overall in AMA Motocross Lites with a win and seven podiums, and fourth overall inAMA Supercross Lites with two podiums and two top-five finishes.
"We are very excited to have Mike join Team Makita Suzuki," said Team Makita Suzuki Manager RogerDeCoster. "While Mike has been the subject of a bit of controversy in the past, we feel he has reached aturning point in his career and will put forth the effort necessary to succeed. He is a highly motivatedyoung man and his recent accomplishments in the 2007 AMA Motocross series have shown that hehas the skill and determination to get the results we are all looking for."
Currently, Alessi lives in Victorville, California with his family and his brother, Jeff, who also races AMAMotocross and Supercross. When he's not busy riding and training, he spends what downtime he haswith his girlfriend, Danielle, and their dog, Holeshot.
"The signing of Mike Alessi completes our current team roster for 2008," added DeCoster. "Team MakitaSuzuki will consist of Ryan Dungey and Nico Izzi competing aboard the 2008 Makita Suzuki RM-Z250in the SX and MX Lites classes. In the SX and MX classes, David Vuillemin and Mike will ride the all-new,fuel-injected 2008 RM-Z450. We are looking forward to next season with great expectations for ournew riders and our brand-new bike."
For more information on Team Makita Suzuki Racing, log onto www.teamsuzuki.com.