Welcome to another edition of ‘Memorable Moments’ – we are nearing the end now! On each Tuesday, we have been looking at some of the more memorable moments from this year, which is obviously what we are doing here. So, without further ado, here are a few more.
Jeff Alessi and that Laser Incident:
When Jeff Alessi was caught shining a laser into the riders’ eyes at the Washougal national, it sent the sport into frenzy; everyone was talking about it. Of course, the aftermath prompted even more debate, as the Alessi clan said things that added even more fuel to the fire. It was definitely one of the more bizarre moments that emerged from the 2013 season. I think that it will be a long time before we all forget about the incident. Obviously, this has had a lasting affect on Jeff, as he cannot compete at a professional level anymore.
The Day that Belgium Beat the World:
Going into the 2013 Motocross des Nations, I was certain that no one would be able to beat the American team. It seemed highly unlikely. After all, America did have a strong squad. But, team Belgium defied the odds and won the event in a sensational manner. Of course, Belgium did run into some problems, as Clement Desalle failed to finish the final race after he dislocated his shoulder in the first turn. But, that did not stop them from winning the event for the first time since 2004, as each Belgian rider posted consistent results over the course of weekend, which ultimately led to their success.
Tomac and Roczen Battle It Out in Germany:
In my opinion, the battle that Eli Tomac and Ken Roczen had for the win in the second moto at the Motocross des Nations in September was the best race of the year. I don’t know how the battle came across on TV, but it was brilliant to watch in person. Obviously the fact that we were in Germany added to the excitement of it all; the locals desperately wanted to see their homegrown hero take the win! It was a great way to end another incredible season of racing around the world.
Roger DeCoster’s Post-Race Comments:
Following the Motocross des Nations, everyone was talking about the comments that Roger DeCoster made about Ryan Dungey in an exclusive MX Vice interview. In motocross, a lot of the people that are involved with the riders stay tight-lipped when it comes to criticism. But Roger did not hold back in our interview, which was really surprising. There were many high profile people that were shocked: Dave Osterman, Chad Reed and Lindsay Siegle (to name a few) offered up their thoughts on Twitter. For me, this was personal highlight; it was a huge deal for us. If you want to relive that interview, you can find it right here.
Bradshaw and Lenoir Battle for a RBPN title:
The Red Bull Pro Nationals season finale was an exciting one. Sure the MX1 class was a bit of a foregone conclusion, but the MX2 class was still wide open – Bradshaw and Lenoir entered the final round (Culham) with just two points separating them. Rarely are the points so close going into the final round, so this really caught a lot of people’s attention. In the end, Neville Bradshaw won the title, which was the second championship that he picked up in 2013 – the South African won the MX2 class at the British Masters, also. Steven came up just two points short of the Red Bull Pro Nationals title, which must have been a crushing blow for him.
Words by Lewis Phillips
Image: Suzuki Racing
