#WHIPITWEDNESDAY

Rider: Mike Alessi

Mike Alessi was one of the most dominant amateur riders of all time. He won the Loretta Lynn National a total of eleven times as well as many other amateur nationals throughout the years. When he turned pro in 2004 he found success early grabbing a third in his second pro motocross national that he ever raced. It seemed his pro career would be similar to the success he had as an amateur, but in pro racing sometimes you have to be a bit lucky, and Mike did not find that luck through the years. Over his career, he finished runner-up overall multiple times accumulating many wins in the process. When he was looking to finally grab his first championship, he was struck with an injury that would hurt his title hopes. Nevertheless, he had one of the longest racing careers of any rider and had more success than most. Today Mike is living with his family and still racing select events like the World Two-Stroke Championships.

JETT LAWRENCE IS YOUR 2024 450SX CHAMPION

Jett Lawrence’s number one helmet and championship trophy.

Jett Lawrence has officially become the 2024 Supercross 450 champion and heads into motocross with his confidence high. Jett was able to cruise into a seventh-place finish in the final round at Salt Lake City as he came into the event with a twenty-point lead over Cooper Webb. Jett built up momentum after a fifth-place finish at Foxborough when he won the three rounds leading into the finale. Cooper Webb fought hard and even tied the points up at one point but an injury stopped him from racing to his full potential. This opened up the door greatly for Jett Lawrence who wasted no time and capitalized. He is now on the list of greats as a 450SX Champion.

TOM VIALLE WINS IN THE UNITED STATES

Tom Vialle over the finish in Salt Lake City when he secured the 2024 250SX East championship.

After only a year of racing in the United States after leaving the MXGP series, Tom Vialle has done what so many others have tried and failed to accomplish. He has officially become a Supercross champion and he did it in dominating fashion. Though he did not get the most wins this season he was by far the most consistent. At the beginning of the East series Vialle had found himself on the ground in turn one and his championship hopes seemed to be fading away. However he held strong and when injury struck Cameron McAdoo in Nashville, Vialle capitalized finishing third on the night and taking over the points lead. He was able to stay consistent through the remainder of the season and came out as a champion.

RJ HAMPSHIRE WINS HIS FIRST CHAMPIONSHIP

RJ Hampshire is your 2024 250SX West champion.

After ten years of professional racing, RJ Hampshire finally got the job done at this year’s finale. Both RJ Hampshire and Levi Kitchen were tied coming into the final race which made it a winner-take-all scenario. Hampshire held tough and was able to grab the better start of the two. He showed tremendous speed in the main event, even catching the leader Haiden Deegan but did not force a pass as the championship was more important than a race win. Hampshire has been runner-up in multiple seasons in the past and it was quite an accomplishment that he was finally able to seal the deal and take home the win. RJ stated that he would like to defend next year, racing the East Coast events on a 450 and making his 450 debut for motocross in 2025.

ONE OF THE HARDEST GOODBYES

Adam Cianciarulo represented his amateur number (92) on his final press day in Salt Lake City.

Salt Lake City marked the final race for Adam Cianciarulo, a rider who has been a fan favorite since he rode KX 85’s. Adam announced earlier in the year that he would be stepping away from professional racing at the conclusion of the Supercross season. Though Adam has had much success as a pro, injuries and nerve damage in his hand have hindered him from his true potential, and with that, he decided it was time to look into his next venture. Adam was also one of the most successful amateurs of all time. He had a lot of pressure to win when he made it to the pro ranks which he did, winning his first Supercross debut. He went on to become a 250 champion in both Supercross and motocross and won the Monster Energy Cup as a rookie on the 450. Adam has always been a kind figure at the track and never caused any drama with the other riders. He was well respected which is why so many people were fans of his. Adam has a very outgoing personality and it will be interesting to see where it leads him. We thank Adam for all the years of dedication and the entertainment he brought to our sport.

BEST IN THE PITS 2024 SALT LAKE CITY SUPERCROSS

MXA PHOTO TRIVIA

Who is this rider? Answer at the bottom of the article.

MXA FANTASY LEAGUE: THE WINNER OF THE SALT LAKE CITY SUPERCROSS SCORED 271 POINTS

After another awesome night of racing, champions were crowned at the Salt Lake City Supercross. But as for MXA Fantasy League, the race results were not the common picks. Chase Sexton had a dominant day being the fastest in qualifying and in the main event, taking the win and boosting his confidence in the process. RJ Hampshire and Levi Kitchen both charged hard as it was a winner-take-all for those riders. But as for Jett Lawrence and Tom Vialle, they had a points cushion and did not risk a crash on the track. The Supercross season has concluded but we are heading into the pro motocross series next, and in order to have a chance to win the Triumph 250, players will have to continue making picks throughout the full series.

THE WINNER OF THE SALT LAKE CITY FANTASY LEAGUE “TNT-SK”

TNT-SK had the best picks in Salt Lake City for the MXA Fantasy League. Let’s see how his picks are stacked up to be able to capture this win.

250 CLASS PREDICTIONS

450 CLASS PREDICTIONS

In the 450 class, the predictions were good as well. In first he chose Jett Lawrence who did not finish within the top six giving no fantasy points. In second he chose Chase Sexton who won the main event and gave a full 26 fantasy points but no bonus. In third, he chose Cooper Webb who did in fact get third on the night giving 31 points including the ten-point bonus. In fourth, he chose Jason Anderson and this pick was also correct as Anderson finished in the fourth position giving 29 points including the ten-point bonus. In fifth he chose Justin Cooper who finished second in the main event and gave 23 points but no bonus points. In sixth he chose Justin Barcia who ended up fifth on the night giving 18 fantasy points but no bonus. These picks were enough to give TNT-SK the win in this week’s fantasy.

COTY SCHOCK YAMAHA YZ125 TWO-STROKE WIDE OPEN

EVS TECHNICAL UNDERGEAR

The TUG Sleeveless shirt is a minimalist underlayer designed to keep you cool in warm riding conditions while preventing skin irritation and discomfort from safety equipment. Perforated Air Mesh fabric allows air to flow unimpeded while providing abrasion protection.

The Impact 3/4 Pant is a performance base layer with four-way stretch and moisture-wicking materials. RMF (Reactive Memory Foam) Technology is soft and pliable yet hardens when force is applied. The Impact Pant provides protection that seamlessly integrates with your off-road riding pants.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: RJ HAMPSHIRE CHAMPIONSHIP THOUGHTS

“EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN STORY AND I WAS DETERMINED TO WRITE MY OWN. TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP, JUST TO BE A PART OF THAT, IS TRULY SPECIAL. I’VE HAD SO MANY UPS, SO MANY DOWNS, AND STILL PEOPLE WHO JUST BELIEVED IN ME. MY GROUP, I WOULD NOT CHANGE, AND A MASSIVE THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED AND A PART OF THE STORY. I WAS THE FASTEST GUY ALL DAY TODAY, HAD A DECENT START IN THE MAIN EVENT, AND DID WHAT I NEEDED TO DO – IN THE END, WE FINALLY DID IT AND IT WAS A GOOD RACE TO CLINCH THE CHAMPIONSHIP!”

WEEKLY PRIZES FOR MOTOCROSS IN THE MXA FANTASY LEAGUE

We are headed into motocross for the continuation of the 2024 season. With all new prizes, play weekly for a chance to win.

Apple app download: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mxa-fantasy-league/id6473468112

Android app download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mxa.fantasyleague&pcampaignid=web_share

Dive into an unparalleled motocross Fantasy experience with MXA’s cutting-edge app, meticulously crafted to deliver all the action directly to your fingertips. Our sophisticated, seamless, and completely free platform allows you to engage in intense competitions, even if you join mid-season. With opportunities to win prizes every weekend based on the most points gained from each race, you’re never out of the running. The season is already in full swing, but you can still challenge your friends, create groups, and immerse yourself in the competition by joining private parties. Enter at any point in the 2024 Supercross series, and stay tuned for our 2024 AMA Motocross Fantasy game. If you’re using Apple click here and if you’re on Android click here.

MXA PHOTO OF THE WEEK

After winning the East Coast Championship, Tom Vialle paid respect to the late Rene Hofer who was Tom’s former teammate by having his number on the back of his front number plate.

CLASSIC MXA PHOTO

Jeremy McGrath riding to a race win in the 1999 Supercross series.

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MXA Photo trivia answer: Damon Huffman who was the 1994 and 1995 125 Supercross West champion.