Remembering Jeff Alessi

October 3, 2023, @ 4 pm
Words: Trey Stire
Main Photo: mccabe615

The Motocross world lost a family member on October 3rd, as news broke that 34-year-old Jeff Alessi passed away. Competing from 2005-2012 and again in 2016, Alessi was primarily known as the younger brother of Mike. The Alessi brothers rose through the ranks as hyped amateurs, and the success of their amateur days helped them get a factory ride to start their careers. To honor Alessi, we will take a quick look at his tenure in Pro Supercross and Motocross.

The Beginning: 2005-2007

Jeff Alessi began his pro career at the start of the 2005 AMA Motocross season, joining his brother on the Red Bull KTM team. Making his debut at just 16 years old, Alessi entered the premiere 250MX class aboard a KTM 450. In his first race, Alessi finished 23rd overall at Hangtown. Alessi failed to score points in the first moto with a 24th place finish but rebounded to take 17th and the first four points of his professional career. Alessi competed in two more races in the 250 class before dropping down to the 125MX class for the remainder of 2005. Alessi finished 24th in his debut season of Motocross, taking a best finish of 9th overall at Glen Helen, a race overshadowed by his brother’s run-ins with Pro Circuit Kawasaki riders. Despite the early building blocks in 2005, Alessi would suffer a significant setback prior to 2006. The younger Alessi broke both feet in a practice crash, causing him to miss the entire year of racing. Alessi returned in 2007 to compete in his first 250 Supercross campaign. In his first attempt, Alessi qualified for the main event at Atlanta, finishing 13th. Two seventh place finishes at the following rounds in Daytona and St. Louis were the best runs of his maiden Supercross season, which ended with an 11th place finish in the 250 East standings. Jeff moved back up to the 450 for the Motocross season, joining his brother Mike, who graduated from the 250 class. The first full season on a 450 for Jeff Alessi ended with 18th in points. The season's highlight was a solid 7th overall at Redbud with consistent 7-8 scores. The Alessi family celebrated a double top ten that afternoon, as Mike took 3rd overall, behind only Ricky Carmichael and James Stewart. Following the 2007 season, both Alessi brothers left KTM after their factory program shut down.

Jeff Alessi spent 2005 and 2007 as a factory KTM rider, with a best finish of 7th on three different occasions in 2007. (Photo: Motocross Action Magazine)

Turning Heads: 2008

Jeff Alessi joined the Bad Boy Power Drinks backed Rick Ware Racing Honda team for Supercross, but Alessi’s first 450 Supercross campaign was a disappointment. Alessi qualified for only two main events during the season, finishing 17th at Anaheim 1 and 15th at San Diego. However, his fortunes changed for the motocross season. Joining the Wonder Warthog effort, Alessi had a breakout campaign outdoors. The #801 completed the national season and finished 8th in the final standings, a career best. Alessi scored top 10 overall finishes in 8 of the 12 rounds during the season, with career best 6th overall finishes at Redbud and Millville. The stellar outdoor season put Alessi as the second highest privateer in the point standings, trailing only New Zealand’s Cody Cooper, who took fifth. The results from the 2008 Motocross season helped Alessi land a ride for the entirety of 2009 and 2010.

The MCR Days: 2009-2012

Alessi signed with the brand new Motoconcepts Racing Honda team for 2009, campaigning the 250 West Supercross season before moving back to the 450 for motocross. Dropping back into the 250 class was a good move for Alessi, as he followed up his career best season outdoors with one in Supercross. Alessi took 8th in the standings, qualifying for seven main events. Four top tens and a sensational fifth place at Anaheim 3 ahead of multiple factory riders showcased Alessi’s talent and potential. The 2009 Motocross season didn’t yield the same results as the previous year, but Alessi qualified for every round in MCR’s first motocross campaign. Alessi took 19th in the standings during a very competitive season, with 9-14 finishes at High Point delivering him a season best 11th overall. Alessi remained with the team for 2010, as the squad switched to Yamahas. Alessi dropped back down to the 250 class for Supercross, resulting in an 11th place finish in the standings. Jeff matched his top ten total from 2009, taking a best finish of 9th at San Francisco. Unfortunately, Alessi missed a majority of the outdoor season and failed to score points in the four rounds he competed in.

Jeff Alessi soared through the sky during the 2009 Seattle Supercross, en route to a 10th place finish aboard his Motoconcepts Racing Honda. (Photo: Brian Robinette)

In 2011, Alessi moved to the Rock River Powersports Yamaha team. Alessi qualified for his first main event with the team at Phoenix, finishing 18th. This would end up being the only main event of his season after suffering an injury. Alessi moved back to the Motoconcepts Racing team, now competing on Suzukis. The reunion with MCR also put the Alessi brothers back as teammates for the first time in five years. Jeff qualified for seven main events during the season, taking a best finish of 15th at Indianapolis. 2012 marked the end of Jeff Alessi’s full time career, but the younger Alessi brother would return for a year in 2016.

Alessi qualified for seven main events in his return to MCR, pictured battling with Josh Hansen at Houston. Alessi would end up in 16th, ahead of Hansen in 19th. (Photo: GuyB/Vital MX)

A Comeback: 2016

Jeff Alessi made a comeback during the 2016 season, which would end up being his final year competing full-time in the series. He started back on the Motoconcepts team for the first several rounds, qualifying for two main events. Alessi was then picked up by the BWR Engines Honda team, qualifying for three more main events. A last place finish at St. Louis ended up being Jeff’s final career Supercross main event start.

Jeff Alessi was photographed getting ready to practice at Glendale in 2016, one of the early rounds of Alessi’s final full season. (Photo: GuyB/Vital MX)

Alessi ended his career with 36 main event starts and 52 national appearances between each class. Alessi scored one top 5 and eleven top 10s during his 250 Supercross run and ten top 10s in Motocross. The best points finishes of his career came in the 2008 Motocross and 2009 250 West Supercross seasons, placing 8th. A mainstay in the pits for nearly a decade, Jeff Alessi was a great competitor. Alessi’s legacy will live on through the various students he trained in the years after his retirement.

The Imperative MX family extends their condolences to the Alessi family and those impacted by this tragic loss. Godspeed, Jeff Alessi.