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Edited Date/Time
2/25/2012 3:34pm
Im not saying Im right, and Jason Thomas gave a Pros perspective in another thread disproving this, but can someone please post the official AMA rule stating this statement from racerhead?:
Speaking of Mike Alessi, I mentioned that $500 fine. The AMA rulebook explicitly states that riders must line up straight behind the starting gate, but Mike moved his motorcycle over a bit as the 30-second board was up. He ended up with a great start, beaten to the first turn by only one rider: little brother Jeff Alessi! Jeff earned $1,500 for the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot bonus; Mike lost $500 for the illegal start.
I just find it hard to believe his team would let him do this if there was an ACTUAL rule. I am not necessarily siding with him and his choice, but I am still believing my theory that he was in the proper starting area that the "rules" have set up, and if there is an empty legitmate gate, maybe they should be putting riders in there instead of this contraversy. We could have used 200 lbs Weston Pieck give Alessi an elbow or push if he impeded his start rather than penalize him for something that every fan is lit up about
Speaking of Mike Alessi, I mentioned that $500 fine. The AMA rulebook explicitly states that riders must line up straight behind the starting gate, but Mike moved his motorcycle over a bit as the 30-second board was up. He ended up with a great start, beaten to the first turn by only one rider: little brother Jeff Alessi! Jeff earned $1,500 for the Nuclear Cowboyz Holeshot bonus; Mike lost $500 for the illegal start.
I just find it hard to believe his team would let him do this if there was an ACTUAL rule. I am not necessarily siding with him and his choice, but I am still believing my theory that he was in the proper starting area that the "rules" have set up, and if there is an empty legitmate gate, maybe they should be putting riders in there instead of this contraversy. We could have used 200 lbs Weston Pieck give Alessi an elbow or push if he impeded his start rather than penalize him for something that every fan is lit up about
Yes they should have put Peick in the Gate, they really screwed him over too.
Kenny Watson said he would pay that 500 fine everytime if his riders could do what Alessi did. They actually told JH100 he would get docked points or a position for doing it. Then went over and told Alessi its a fine, apparently I hear Alessi old mechanic was the decesion maker at the AMA on that fine? Not sure, just what I heard on Pulp.
p. Motorcycles must be centered in the starting gate. Riders may
not start at an angle.
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I've seen many times in a 40 rider gate in mx where a rider with a very outside gate pick will dog it out of the gate and then immediately cut down to the inside behind the pack. As the pack flows through the first corner and pushes outside, that rider is in a good position to sweep tight inside and pick up many positions (i've seen riders come through in the top 10 before.) I've seen guys try to do this in SX, but it doesn't always work well because the corners are alot tighter and the pack stays balled up. It does work good though if there is a large pile up on the outside.
Here's my question, if all the AMA is going to do is fine $500, why wouldn't he do it every time? Pay the $500 with his $1500 holeshot money. The rewards, getting into the lead at the start, far out-weigh the $500 consequence. I would say there needs to be a stiffer penalty. First offense $500 fine, caught more than one time results in automatic black flag. Repeat offenders doing it in the main should not be allowed to qualify for the main and their spot should be filled with the next fastest rider.
The AMA official told Hansen if he didn't get his bike into the rut correctly it would be a loss of points or he would be docked a lap.
My point is, it's not much of an infraction to get all hot and bothered about.
It's a very simple and clear rule, written in simple and clear language. No legalese, no interpretations, nothing. Just plain English.
Pit Row
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