Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing's Mike Alessi started the AMA Motocross season strongly by capturing second place overall at this weekend's season-opening round at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California.Team mate Michael Byrne also had a good weekend, thanks to a sixth-place overall result, while David Vuillemin struggled to17th overall.
In the Motocross Lites class, Ryan Dungey had a fine weekend after taking fourth place overall. Nico Izzi, meanwhile, had a good first moto, finishing eighth, but had some issues in the second moto and wound up with 13th overall.
Mike Alessi:
"The season-opener at Glen Helen couldn't have gone any better. I have been working very hard during my time off after breaking my collarbone in Supercross and it showed. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z450 was working great. I love the bike and it lets me ride to the best of my ability and I
think I proved that this weekend by finishing 46 seconds in front of third place in the second moto."
Michael Byrne:
"My weekend went well. I had some great starts which definitely made life a lot easier. It felt really good to be back out there racing again. I was definitely nervous about my knee and how I was going to go, since this was my first race back after being injured, but once the gate dropped, I was OK and I forgot about it. Now I'm just looking forward to next weekend at Hangtown and the rest of the series."
David Vuillemin:
"Glen Helen was a difficult weekend for me. I had a few issues that I hope will be resolved for Hangtown. I am also dealing with a torn meniscus that I will have surgery on after the High Point National. It has been bothering me since the San Francisco Supercross and I can't put it off any longer, especially with all the ruts on a motocross track."
Ryan Dungey:
"It was a good weekend overall. I'm pretty happy with how I rode and the Rockstar Makita Suzuki RM-Z250 was running great. I feel like my endurance is good and I'm just working at getting better and improving over the season."
Nico Izzi:
"The first moto was pretty good and I got eighth. And then the second moto was also going good and I had four laps to go and then I had some problems with the bike and couldn't finish the race. But overall I was happy with my endurance and my fitness. I was pretty pumped, really, because I was waiting for myself to get tired and it never happened."
Rockstar Makita Suzuki Factory Racing will race next at Hangtown in Rancho Cordova, California on May 31 - June 1st.
AMA Motocross Top 10:
1. James Stewart (Kawasaki) 1-1
2. Mike Alessi (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) 2-2
3. Davi Millsaps (Honda) 3-3
4. Timmy Ferry (Kawasaki) 4-4
5. Ivan Tedesco (Honda) 7-5
6. Michael Byrne (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) 9-7
AMA Motocross Lites Top 10
1. Austin Stroupe (Kawasaki) 2-3
2. Ryan Villopoto (Kawasaki) 5-1
3. Jason Lawrence (Yamaha) 1-5
4. Ryan Dungey (Rockstar Makita Suzuki) 4-2
5. Brett Metcalfe (Kawasaki) 3-4
6. Jake Weimer (Honda) 7-7
