Mike Alessi took pole position for the Americans at Glen Helen on Saturday.

American Mike Alessi made it a great day for the American fans watching the opening day of the USA Grand Prix as he went on to dominate the MX1 qualifying heat.

With strong wind blowing in the morning and the free practice sessions being cancelled, Ben Townley exploited his knowledge of the track to take second ahead of Max Nagl and championship leader Tony Cairoli.

Jägermeister KTM’s Alessi led the entire qualifying heat with a dominant performance.

The American, who was supposed to race the first three GP’s of 2010 but pulled out due to an injury, finally made his eagerly awaited appearance and paid the fans back with his first Grand Prix pole position of 2010 and the second for the KTM 350 SX-F.

Making his comeback to the GP scene was second placed in today’s qualifying Townley of Troy Lee Designs Lucas Oil Honda. The former MX2 World Champion, who races only in the USA now, moved past Philippaerts at the second lap then cruised in second for the rest of the race.

The Italian instead crashed and pulled out of the race.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX1 took third and fourth courtesy of Nagl and Cairoli respectively. The German made a mistake at the opening lap while championship leader Cairoli rode a steady moto not to spend too many energies in the American heat.

LS Motors Honda’s Davide Guarneri was a solid fifth ahead of Steve Ramon and another American, Ryan Hughes.

After injuring his shoulder in Spain, Jimmy Albertson entered the GP but crashed and pulled out of the qualifying heat. Nevertheless the American will be at the starting gate tomorrow.

Former world and AMA champion Grant Langston also had a tough moto as he qualified in 17th just in front of Ken De Dycker.

MX2 series leader Marvin Musquin of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing MX2 stormed to his second pole position of the season after he took a dominant win in today’s qualifying heat, completing a successful day for KTM.

Musquin dominated the whole race as teammate Jeffrey Herlings tried to follow but crashed later on to finish a bitter 15th.

Courtesy of a great start and of Herlings’ crash, Kawasaki CLS’ Jeremy Van Horebeek took a valuable second, which is so far the best qualifying moto result for the Belgian in his first year with Kawasaki.

His teammate Gordon Frossard was following in third but crashed and dropped down to ninth.

It was a surprising third place finish for GP debutant Max Anstie of Great Britain. The DNA Shred Stix Star Racing Yamaha rider had a good start and worked his way up from the bottom of the top five to a final third.

Ken Roczen of Teka Suzuki Europe World MX2 instead recovered from a bad start to take fourth ahead of Yamaha Monster Energy’s Gautier Paulin.

Home rider Zach Osborne took sixth and hopes in a podium finish for this first home GP of his career.

The first moto of this American round of the FIM Veterans’ World Cup was an affair in between home rider Doug Dubach and New Zealander Daryll King, who took an eventual second after holding the lead for a single lap. The rest of the race was dominated by Dubach. Series leader Nilsson took an eventual third ahead of Kurt Nicoll and Davis. Jeff Matiasevich was ninth.

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