By ANDY GARDNER

POTSDAM -- In what may seem to some as an odd connection between the North Country and the world of professional motor sports, motocross and supercross racers are traveling from around the U.S. to seek treatment for track-related injuries at Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

Among them is Mike Alessi, a 26-year-old motocross and supercross racer who lives in Florida.

He says Canton-Potsdam’s Dr. Mike Maresca has forged close friendships with racers over the years, so when they hurt themselves while on their bikes, he’s the first one to whom they turn.

“We’ve become very good, close friends,” Alessi said. He added that when he realized his injury would require surgery, “my first thought was to call Doc (Maresca).”

Alessi, who has raced professionally since age 16, said he suffered a bucket tear to his left meniscus.

“It required me to be cut out, scoped and cleaned,” he said.

Alessi said he sustained the injury while racing in Anaheim, Calif. over the weekend. He was racing in the main AMA Supercross event and had to stop on the 16th of 20 laps because of his injury.

“I felt my knee twist and pop and it locked completely ... I knew I had a problem,” he said. “Anyone who knows me knows I have to be significantly hurt or dying to not finish. I do whatever I can to finish the race.”

Alessi said CPH’s Dr. Luc Perrier performed his surgery on Wednesday afternoon and he expects to be back on his bike by Tuesday.

“If it was up to me, I’d suit up … I’m going to take the weekend off,” he said.

Alessi expects to return to AMA Supercross at another event in Anaheim the weekend of Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

More information about Alessi: http://www.alessiracing.com/