I fully understand the Alessi's had a few moments in history that made them look bad, but with that said I alway admired them a lot. One they fully stuck together like truly supported each other as a family at every turn good or bad. Thats worth noting. The pros were the pros but i always was amazed at their approach to amateur racing they showed up to every race like a factory team, they being tony and mike and their sponsors already knew for a fact he was going to win by a literal mile at every single local race, regionals, and even most nationals yet they still showed up and took every single moment of amateur racing as serious as if it were life and death situations. It was actually pretty interesting to watch first hand. They put more effort than needed into every aspect from practice, their bikes, etc. They had the fastest bikes on the track in the amateurs and would still be trying to figure out every week how to make it a little bit faster. Their dedication to racing was impressive for sure.
True story about the Alessis. Before they switched from Kawasaki to Yamaha as amateurs, they put an ad in the paper looking for a newer YZ85 to test out. My friend had a '98 YZ 85 bought brand new, totally stock. Tony promised to do some work on the bike like jetting, new bars, plastics, graphics, etc., in exchange for letting Mike and Jeff try the Yamaha before making the switch. He never did any of that. I remember my buddy telling me that one day after riding, Mike and Jeff asked their dad, Tony, if they could come to my friend's house to swim in the pool after a long hot day. Apparently Tony said, "no, that they didn't ride good enough that day." I heard another story that during a race, Mike fell and the bike landed on top of him. Instead of rushing out to help his son, who was pinned underneath the bike, he grabbed a bike stand and threw it across the track in a temper tantrum because he was so angry that Mike had fallen. He was pretty tough on those kids, that's for sure. It made Mike into an amazing racer who had a tremendous work ethic and discipline. And his starts were unreal. I met Mike at 24 Hour Fitness in Simi Valley right after he broke both his legs when he came up short on a jump on his YZ85. Yamaha made sure he got the best medical care. He came waddling into the gym shortly after having surgery (no crutches) he couldn't even bend his knees. He was walking like young Forest Gump. I trained him a few sessions, free of charge. It was my pleasure, I was just stoked to know Mike. I was like 16 years old at the time. Mike was around 12. I still looked up to him as a racer. Jeff was a handful to say the least. Getting him to take a workout serious was basically impossible, but he was a year younger than Mike and way less mature.
Pretty sick story. I didn’t even know they rode Yamaha 80s. When I first started taking racing real serious I think Jeff was racing 85 12-13 and mike 14-15. It was a couple years after Honda started making their cr85 instead of cr80. And I remember how sick their bikes always were and I would try to make mine like theirs. Fmf factory fatty and the vented front fender that mike would run a lot. Only thing I never got that mike ran a lot was the vented front number plate. Even had a sick set of alloy gear like they wore back then.
@@zanerollins3394 my dad bought a raffle ticket for some benefit at a CMA race in Hanford when I was a kid. We ended up winning Mikes gear. The alloy gear believe the hype era. When we went to pick it up it seemed like nobody told Mike they were auctioning off his gear and he was all confused and annoyed. He gave us his helmet rather than take off the gear he just rode in. Think it was a Bell. Was always sick when they would show up to those little CMA races
I remember back in 2006 ish when I went to Honda shop to buy a new CR 85 and Mike and Jeff were the posters boys for the new 85 on the the Honda brochures.
I remember Tony emailing my dad, who was the President of KTM North America at the time... Tony needed more torque. Had the math and everything laid out. It was incredibly impressive to see the detail that Tony went thru to make sure Mike could get the holeshot. Cool family.
Tony is insane, Don Maeda had a funny story years ago when Mike broke his arm before some big race and he goes to Don (who is Asian) and asks him "Hey what are some of those Asian techniques to heal his broken arm right now?!". Don laughed his ass off, and Tony was serious.
2000. I was at GH in the pits. My kid was a beginner with new cr85. I noticed the Allessi camp and started picking Tony’s brain. He told me to change out the big wheels for standard. Golden nugget. Longer swing arm better stability.
Respect to Mike and tony at least they suited up and showed up , Mike was a bit weird in his racing but he always tried 100percent , wasn’t scared of anyone wish my old man was as keen as tony , runs a good team
3:30 - Ayo i‘ve been to training camps in germany with the guy who used to train roczen and he has a product like that wich is supposed to balance the eletromagnetics of the engine and frame and stuff
Should have given my buddy Dan Keefe who was Mike’s mechanic a shout out for all the crazy shit those dudes went through on the road 😂😂 would be legend to get Dan on this podcast with the alessies haha
On our way home from the glen helen national we stopped at a diner off the Freeway somewhere, I went into the restroom and the allessi brothers were standing 10ft away from the urinal having a pissing contest, they were a year or 2 older than me, ( I was 9 or 10) it was the funniest thing I ever seen, they pissed all over the place trying to see who could piss further, it changed the way I thought about competition, 😂
Tony will be a huge show, he’s a nut case but has been through it all. I can’t wait to hear what he has to say. Also, the last few guests have been rad Jase!
I know where the desert alessi track is and is still there. It is the most whooped out sand track I have ever ridden 🤣 but is great for training. I like the trail riding in the area and mtn bike trails that I use on my dB are incredible. Ricky brabec and many others are out there all the time as it is their backyard.
That’s nice that he loved a bike so much he could talk about it years later. I remember being on a mini track with a friend and some guy pulled up with two ten thousand dollar a piece mini bikes needless to say he put our pony to shame with his kids powerbanding the crap out of the track. I did work with a famous motor builder and he told me some of the better pros rode stock bikes and even though you might have the money to build something of a motor you also ran the risk of losing power if the work was not done right and there were few in the industry that could do much to help make more power especially as time went on they came from factory maxxed out and barely could make any more power than stock with any mods. Where i worked we focused not so much on the extra power but more on the low end torque curve for that off the line power. You could do many things but you have to do them all for that small gain pay up 🤑
RC was the most athletic rider of his generation. He changed the game when he went to Aldon Baker for the personal training. His fitness and endurance were unmatched by anyone, except for maybe Stewart. Even he struggled to keep up with RC. That's why he's the GOAT.
Honestly Tony deserves A lot of recognition !! He is the most generous human being ❤ it’s crazy what a dad will do for his son and for Tony case. There is no other like him especially in our sport, he has made a name for himself almost as Infamous as his son.
Reed came up short on that 2009 title on the Suzuki but had great battles with Stewart he wanted to stay with Suzuki but they let him go in favor of moving Dungy up to the 450 it paid off because he won the championship but I don't think he would have had read not caught mono and bailed out of his Kawasaki deal only to start *#TwoTwoMotorsports* The following season
I can’t criticize Tony. He was a super-crazy, weird, overbearing moto-dad trying to make his kids successful. He might have done it wrong. Maybe he did it right, but I give him credit for trying. There are a lot of dads out there who ignore their kids.
I thought the alessi was gonna be super big I remember mini o"s gatorback 03,04,05 they were killing it....and then they just fell off once they became pro Mike held his ground for yr or so then they both fell off in my opinion...but the dad always seemed like real prick
I fully understand the Alessi's had a few moments in history that made them look bad, but with that said I alway admired them a lot. One they fully stuck together like truly supported each other as a family at every turn good or bad. Thats worth noting. The pros were the pros but i always was amazed at their approach to amateur racing they showed up to every race like a factory team, they being tony and mike and their sponsors already knew for a fact he was going to win by a literal mile at every single local race, regionals, and even most nationals yet they still showed up and took every single moment of amateur racing as serious as if it were life and death situations. It was actually pretty interesting to watch first hand. They put more effort than needed into every aspect from practice, their bikes, etc. They had the fastest bikes on the track in the amateurs and would still be trying to figure out every week how to make it a little bit faster. Their dedication to racing was impressive for sure.
Just saw Toni at his mini series ender at Glen Helen, in the 90s he was hated but now that times passed he’s just an absolute legend
True story about the Alessis. Before they switched from Kawasaki to Yamaha as amateurs, they put an ad in the paper looking for a newer YZ85 to test out. My friend had a '98 YZ 85 bought brand new, totally stock. Tony promised to do some work on the bike like jetting, new bars, plastics, graphics, etc., in exchange for letting Mike and Jeff try the Yamaha before making the switch. He never did any of that. I remember my buddy telling me that one day after riding, Mike and Jeff asked their dad, Tony, if they could come to my friend's house to swim in the pool after a long hot day. Apparently Tony said, "no, that they didn't ride good enough that day." I heard another story that during a race, Mike fell and the bike landed on top of him. Instead of rushing out to help his son, who was pinned underneath the bike, he grabbed a bike stand and threw it across the track in a temper tantrum because he was so angry that Mike had fallen. He was pretty tough on those kids, that's for sure. It made Mike into an amazing racer who had a tremendous work ethic and discipline. And his starts were unreal. I met Mike at 24 Hour Fitness in Simi Valley right after he broke both his legs when he came up short on a jump on his YZ85. Yamaha made sure he got the best medical care. He came waddling into the gym shortly after having surgery (no crutches) he couldn't even bend his knees. He was walking like young Forest Gump. I trained him a few sessions, free of charge. It was my pleasure, I was just stoked to know Mike. I was like 16 years old at the time. Mike was around 12. I still looked up to him as a racer. Jeff was a handful to say the least. Getting him to take a workout serious was basically impossible, but he was a year younger than Mike and way less mature.
Pretty sick story. I didn’t even know they rode Yamaha 80s. When I first started taking racing real serious I think Jeff was racing 85 12-13 and mike 14-15. It was a couple years after Honda started making their cr85 instead of cr80. And I remember how sick their bikes always were and I would try to make mine like theirs. Fmf factory fatty and the vented front fender that mike would run a lot. Only thing I never got that mike ran a lot was the vented front number plate. Even had a sick set of alloy gear like they wore back then.
Yep, Tony was a bit of an A$#@%
@@zanerollins3394 my dad bought a raffle ticket for some benefit at a CMA race in Hanford when I was a kid. We ended up winning Mikes gear. The alloy gear believe the hype era. When we went to pick it up it seemed like nobody told Mike they were auctioning off his gear and he was all confused and annoyed. He gave us his helmet rather than take off the gear he just rode in. Think it was a Bell. Was always sick when they would show up to those little CMA races
I remember back in 2006 ish when I went to Honda shop to buy a new CR 85 and Mike and Jeff were the posters boys for the new 85 on the the Honda brochures.
I remember Tony emailing my dad, who was the President of KTM North America at the time... Tony needed more torque. Had the math and everything laid out. It was incredibly impressive to see the detail that Tony went thru to make sure Mike could get the holeshot.
Cool family.
Crazy to hear from guys like yourself who were behind scenes. Hope all is well for ya, take care
Where's that email
@@patsharks9605 I would reckon, not sent to you therefore...
Tony is insane, Don Maeda had a funny story years ago when Mike broke his arm before some big race and he goes to Don (who is Asian) and asks him "Hey what are some of those Asian techniques to heal his broken arm right now?!". Don laughed his ass off, and Tony was serious.
Picturing Mr. Miaggi handling Daniel-san in the locker room at the Karate tournament in the Karate Kid.
When Mike came to Canada and raced I think he pulled the holeshot on every race! The Alessi's are legendary! Lol
Keeper was confusing 2012 with 09. 09 was Rodger and the jg knee cap thing. 2012 was white mcr rmz
2000. I was at GH in the pits. My kid was a beginner with new cr85. I noticed the Allessi camp and started picking Tony’s brain. He told me to change out the big wheels for standard. Golden nugget. Longer swing arm better stability.
I feel like the Alessi family was just passionate about racing to the point where it became, do whatever it takes
Keefer is some good testimony! Im glad you invited him, bring Mathews in?
Respect to Mike and tony at least they suited up and showed up , Mike was a bit weird in his racing but he always tried 100percent , wasn’t scared of anyone wish my old man was as keen as tony , runs a good team
Jiu-Jitsu mention: ✅
Odd!!
They have a lazer focus on details......
Yes a ledge. i heard when mike was on the Honda crf150 he had 15 of them from Honda thats mental
I was blessed to aquire a pro level 2009 from a factory rider back then. Not the fastest but by far the best bike I've ever owned.
Alessi's 450 had a slipper clutch based on Keefer's description of no engine braking.
3:30 - Ayo i‘ve been to training camps in germany with the guy who used to train roczen and he has a product like that wich is supposed to balance the eletromagnetics of the engine and frame and stuff
Touching on the Ryno interview - if you ever had the chance to get Brownie on here with ya, that would be killer!
Tony was on an episode of "what the pros ride" He did an amazing breakdown of a moto concept bike. he knew that bike head to toe. pretty amazing
Should have given my buddy Dan Keefe who was Mike’s mechanic a shout out for all the crazy shit those dudes went through on the road 😂😂 would be legend to get Dan on this podcast with the alessies haha
On our way home from the glen helen national we stopped at a diner off the Freeway somewhere, I went into the restroom and the allessi brothers were standing 10ft away from the urinal having a pissing contest, they were a year or 2 older than me, ( I was 9 or 10) it was the funniest thing I ever seen, they pissed all over the place trying to see who could piss further, it changed the way I thought about competition, 😂
I am still soooo shocked by Jeff Alessi passing. Tony is an amazing father ❤
The wire sounds like a vibration dampener just a thought any transfer into the grips ✌🏿
Tony will be a huge show, he’s a nut case but has been through it all. I can’t wait to hear what he has to say.
Also, the last few guests have been rad Jase!
I know where the desert alessi track is and is still there. It is the most whooped out sand track I have ever ridden 🤣 but is great for training. I like the trail riding in the area and mtn bike trails that I use on my dB are incredible. Ricky brabec and many others are out there all the time as it is their backyard.
Talk about the
Laser pointers little brother was flashing in Ryan Villopoto’s face, so should I
Reminds me a ton on the Tim Gajser's father...mx is their religion, insane from the outside perpective
Please make this happen!
That’s nice that he loved a bike so much he could talk about it years later. I remember being on a mini track with a friend and some guy pulled up with two ten thousand dollar a piece mini bikes needless to say he put our pony to shame with his kids powerbanding the crap out of the track. I did work with a famous motor builder and he told me some of the better pros rode stock bikes and even though you might have the money to build something of a motor you also ran the risk of losing power if the work was not done right and there were few in the industry that could do much to help make more power especially as time went on they came from factory maxxed out and barely could make any more power than stock with any mods. Where i worked we focused not so much on the extra power but more on the low end torque curve for that off the line power. You could do many things but you have to do them all for that small gain pay up 🤑
RC was the most athletic rider of his generation. He changed the game when he went to Aldon Baker for the personal training. His fitness and endurance were unmatched by anyone, except for maybe Stewart. Even he struggled to keep up with RC. That's why he's the GOAT.
J law would take the cake 😅
Honestly Tony deserves A lot of recognition !! He is the most generous human being ❤ it’s crazy what a dad will do for his son and for Tony case. There is no other like him especially in our sport, he has made a name for himself almost as Infamous as his son.
Maybe he should’ve taught his kids to be a little more like him.
Are the Alessi's still doing laser tag?
Get Moranz for a interview.
So these interviews are over zoom right? All these people are not in Australia.. right?
Haha studio in CA
Did the Tony interview ever happen?
Cant find it, guess host is slacking.
@@Marc98338 I don’t think he’s interviewed him yet.
Wtf you have to pay RUclips for better quality f n bull
Reed came up short on that 2009 title on the Suzuki but had great battles with Stewart he wanted to stay with Suzuki but they let him go in favor of moving Dungy up to the 450 it paid off because he won the championship but I don't think he would have had read not caught mono and bailed out of his Kawasaki deal only to start *#TwoTwoMotorsports* The following season
I can’t criticize Tony. He was a super-crazy, weird, overbearing moto-dad trying to make his kids successful. He might have done it wrong. Maybe he did it right, but I give him credit for trying. There are a lot of dads out there who ignore their kids.
😭💯 I felt that last part
Your thinking 2008 Makita Suzuki Keefer is talking about when motoconcepts rode suzuki
iIhave rode that track with Jeff training my kid that track is sick. Especially after it rains!
Mike isn't athletic? Dude is shredded year round lol
TA & Rotella T 4ever ❤️🍻
There’s a track outside El mirage that Tony did the same thing with 😂. Tony is a legend! 🤘🏻
Even trained his other son how to point a laser pen 😂😂😂
Eric dubay jujitsu flatearth would be a good interview
Mike could of been so much more, If Tony just wasn’t around. People didn’t like him & he got too involved.
Gimme some T&A!
He even tried laser pointers
RIP 😢
*BELIEVE THE HYPE*
I thought the alessi was gonna be super big I remember mini o"s gatorback 03,04,05 they were killing it....and then they just fell off once they became pro Mike held his ground for yr or so then they both fell off in my opinion...but the dad always seemed like real prick
Idk man jlaw would prolly break the internet lol
to bad the kids didnt have the grit to take advantage of dads efforts
Mike had the grit. He just didn’t have IT.
@@zacharyradford5552 fair
It appeared to be his nervous system once dudes started catching him during the races
C'mon Ryno being more interesting than Tony...
Cheaters gonna cheat
mike and jeff lack the skills and talent needed to be on top.
Mike had the talent he just got in his own way.
Keefer we love ya but your choice in clothing is lacking bro
he’s not trying to impress anyone just comfortable bro
It was probably a cheater bike
Tony got much better AFTER his kids retired.