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Feel that isn't far off 😄
What i would like to know is, the other 250 riders understood the rules, or didn't see the light? Because they jumped. Shimoda was the exception.
I beg your finest fucking pardon?
Pierce said he didn’t see the light (in the Vital interview); the video shows differently.
Yeeeaaaa…I like Brown but…. The question might as well have been, “Would you rather have a $20k bonus for second, or a $50k bonus for first?” Answer…,”I never saw a light.”
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I'm leaning towards nobody knows about that exception, Pierce made sure to say "I didn't visually see any lights" multiple times in his interview with Lewis. Which if he understood, he could have just said "yea, I knew I was allowed to jump."
That's too many variables for riders to remember in the heat of the moment.
Sorry, you don’t get to say in the past, “It’s in the rulebook”….and now you say “it’s not like the rulebook says.” Because you can’t even do mental gymnastics on what the rulebook says…it’s fucking clear…”absolutely NO” doubles ect. Not…hey heads up maybe…. If you want to change it then you HAVE to change the rule book. The AMA would be laughed out of court on this. Fucking pathetic and embarrassing ….and those doing the mental gymnastics to justify it are clearly doing so for a reason.
btw…there was a yellow flag being waved in the corner before for all of those riders…just in a sort of shy I don’t want to get too close and maybe get dirt on me way. Have some fucking vet riders waiving those bitches. I’ll knock Friese off his bike with the blue flag.
#6 says the Race Director can make a call on it if they feel it wasn’t blatant or maybe they screwed up?
I agree with JT. Too many variables. Make it black and white. I also like the idea of leaving it on for a set amount of time. Lights or flags. 30seconds minimum. Not just sniping the 1st guy
I would make it a globe. 360 viewing and it runs for minimum 30seconds or longer if needed.
doesnt matter if the reason for the red lights is out of the way, or if it was triggered by error by a rider, the fact is that the red lights have to be 100% respected at all time so that when it's for real, it's safe. This happened before and they had kept the penalty so that rider don't start thinking, is for real or is it a fake red light.
This shows again how weak the management and ruling of this sport is. There should be no question, there are enough videos. Jumped under red light, yes or no. irrelevant what the red lights were for. 1 rider respected it as told, as briefed, as trained for.
Another reason why it's a small sport, it's more a circus, alike monster trucks, where you pay to play and the show director decides whats good for the show and the future shows, or not.
Only a vitard would think the AMA would penalize itself. Maybe next time they should fine the red light $500 like they did the pit board.
As mentioned, there can be exceptions declared in rider meetings by race director. That's just how it works. They have discretion to make Some adjustment.
I just fucking KNOW there will be a race this year where Jo is leading and jumps on the lights because he doesn't want this exact thing to happen again and he will be penalized.
How is it that there is unanimous agreement that Pierce should be penalized, and they’re not going to do it? I almost said “almost unanimous” but I don’t think I’ve seen a single post sticking up for Pierce winning.
How can they get this so wrong? Have they come out with an official explanation yet? Dont hide behind press guys like Kellen or make an appearance on Pulp tonight, this needs an official press release at this point. It’s blown up.
It wasn't a red light by function, it was an orange light that happen to be red by color. Riders apparently has been briefed about it and since many in 250 jumped anyway, some understood the function.
I feel like I am a pretty reasonable guy, but both of these explanations from the AMA as detailed on the Vital MX post race show are borderline absurd. It seems like this could've / should've been a very clear "We were at fault for the illumination of the lights for an extended period of time, however we have to stand by the rulebook and adjust the positions as necessary for riders who did not adhere to the light and roll the jump accordingly. Therefore, Jo Shimoda is credited with full points and 1 position gained, and all riders behind him are docked 1 position and the points will be adjusted as such."
The 450s is even more cut and dried.. the flag was out , they jumped. Shit happens, a rule is a rule, you penalize them and try to fix it going forward so it doesnt happen again.
C'mon man.....
It wasn't a red light by function, it was an orange light that happen to be red by color. Riders apparently has been briefed about it and since many in 250 jumped anyway, some understood the function.
This is my guess, what they will referr to in coming PR.
450 other way around, no warning light was on so they can't expect red cross to be seen when they are already up on the jump face. To late to abort. Warning lights was implemented to prevent putting dual flagers i guess having the red cross flag at the bottom and at the top when jump faces are steep.
That is bullshit, there is no exceptions when it directly conflicts with the printed rule book. They have had plenty of time to amend the rule and post it. The EXACT same thing happened to Seth in the playoffs and he was docked 5 points. I was told specifically that the reason Seth's punishment wasn't more severe was that there wasn't a Red Cross Flag displayed to him. I was literally told there is no "rider discretion" when it comes to the lights. They are in place as a safety reason according to the AMA, and I accepted that. There is 0 difference in the 2 situations. The penalty should be the same as it was 5 months ago in the playoffs.
For the record, I really like Pierce. He is a great kid and I was as pumped for him getting that win as anyone. It sux, because I absolutely believe him when he says he didn't see it. Just like when Seth didn't see it last year. The AMA has to be consistent in these rulings. I hope to have a conversation with a couple of them, who I hold in high regard, to understand the lack of action when the evidence is so clear. As of now, this is complete bullshit and seems like there might be some favoritism.
Pit Row
Riders meeting, riders probably informed that warning lights will be on if there is a red cross flag at the finish line duento issues catching it to late.
No warning lights, can't issue penalty.
You are repeatedly making sense and explaining the situation, however all the grown men on here are being too emotional to want to hear it.
That was last year. Rules are updated.
If the rules has been updated including what riders has been told and briefed about pre season and in rider meetings, AMA has made the right calls on both.
If the system is optimal or not is a different situation. As long as they follow what they have said they will do for this season.
I just gonna guess this is now already in the sppea process….
No surprise unfortunately with the AMA nvolved
Although I don't agree with the 250 explanation, I can somewhat understand it.
The 450s, that BS explanation just doesn't make sense. The rule has always been "you abide by the flags, no ifs, buts or maybes. You don't adhere to the flag, you get a penalty, regardless of if you didn't see it."
The AMA simply can't admit they got it wrong and retroactively apply the appropriate penalties. This is damage control and saving face of the worst possible kind and could have major consequences at the end of the season if the championship comes down to the wire.
Red lights being "warning lights" is a backwards move. Even if this was verbalized in the riders meeting, I will stand by my opinion that its unfair to the riders who then have to make split second decisions on what constitutes a warning and what doesnt. Again, it could've just been used as a "mulligan" for the AMA on what can happen with this rule being mis-interpreteted, and then fixed so it doesn't happen again. If it requires an explanation in a press release, the rule is probably already too nuanced to be easy to interpret when on the bike and riding at speed.
No, its because here was no such a thing said at the riders meeting in Arlington about it. Only 3 riders got the lights, Jo, Pierce, and Bennick. They turned lights off as Bennick hit the double.
Yes, the flag was out in the 450s and all of the top 4 jumped on it. You can see the flag out, well before Hunter gets there, on the segment where they were replaying Eli’s pass on Coop. The view from behind Eli/Ken/Coop you can see it at the flagstand when Hunter is in the right hander before the finish.
So, let me get this straight here. The rules are so badly written the flaggers can't keep shit straight but riders on the runup to a massive jump are supposed to make split second decisions whether the blinky light or large red cross flag really mean there's a problem behind that 15' high wall in front of them, or if they were both displayed so it counts or doesn't count, or if they should, as they've been told their entire pro career, grab the binders and roll it.
The AMA clearly has no idea what they're doing, and as Manny often says, You. Cannot. Make. This. Shit. Up.
From the 2026 Rulebook:
e. White Flag with Red Cross or Red Flashing Lights 1. This flag or a red flashing light may be displayed at the beginning of a triple jump or a series of jumps to indicate a potentially hazardous situation on or near the racetrack in an area that may not be clearly visible to oncoming Riders. 2. This flag indicates a significant safety concern and takes precedence over all other flags. 3. Until the Rider is clear of the incident: 2026 AMA SUPERCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP RULEBOOK © 2026 by AMA. No portion of these rules may be copied or used without the express written consent of AMA. 34 i. Riders must follow all directions given by race officials. ii. Passing is prohibited. iii. Riders must traverse all obstacles individually, absolutely NO double, triple, step on/off, etc. iv. Riders must exercise extreme caution and not race or accelerate in an unsafe manner. 4. When displayed on a triple jump, the area of concern is, at minimum, the whole obstacle, i.e., Riders must not jump any section of the triple because a Rider may be down on the face of the triple or after the first or second jump, hidden from view and in a vulnerable position. 5. These rules apply anytime a Rider is on the racetrack, including sighting and cool down laps.
If it hasn't been communicated to riders, which I understand it has, then of course its a major fuck up.
You can't just invent warning signals that also has the opposite meaning written in the rulebook.
Post a reply to: No Flag or Red Cross Violations at Texas: Kellen Brauer