The red cross flag has always been sacred. Red lights and red cross flags have always had the same meaning DON'T JUMP. It has always been a bright line rule for the riders to follow, penalties for violations have been swift and harsh, and now the AMA is abruptly changing course to not penalize multiple riders for clear violations. The justifications that have been put out so far This sport is crazy dangerous, the red cross flag is one of the most effective safety tools they have to prevent serious injury, and they just gutted it. Its a clear statement from the AMA where they stand on rider safety and this decision will be exhibit A when a rider or track personnel gets landed on/seriously injured while a red cross is displayed. A plaintiff's lawyer will have a field day pointing out to a jury that the organization has safety rules that they blatantly disregard when it is convenient to them, keeps the points race tight, and benefits their sponsors.
This sucks for Honda and Joe, but long term, this sucks for the riders more than anything. The rules were clear, they didn't enforce them, someone will get landed on in the future as a result.
Finally, these flaggers need to WAVE their freaking flags. It increases visibility significantly. It also wouldn't be hard to line the face of the jumps with tuff blocks that have full length led strips to make them more noticeable for riders vs. the single flashing lights they have now. Jumps that are immediately out of a corner should have warning lights on the entry to the corner to ensure that the hazard is seen by all riders.
3rd option; Eliminate it all because the rules don't really matter anymore...
Give them chains and 2x4s too.
this chit is all fixed... just wasting keystrokes complaining about it...
Vital 2024: You can't see the red cross flag until you are too close to it, it's not fair Jett got penalized.
AMA: We got you, we'll put leader lights in front of potential hazards. You can continue at full speed, but you will know early because yellow light.
Pro-Circuit: Yellow lights are hard to see, make them red.
AMA: We got you.
Jo Shimoda: I saw a red light, so I rolled it thinking it was a "do not jump" light. 🤦♂️
Post race interview with Eli Tomac jumping on red cross in 450 main: No comment (smart!) . AMA - we didn't have leader lights on, we won't penalize you because you didn't have time to see the red cross flag.
JT$ post race show: It's too confusing for a racer, too many things going on.
Vital 2026: I have my pitchfork out, I just need to stab someone and be done with this.
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Imagine a situation in a race this season where there is a red cross flag, for a genuine reason/rider down injured, but no "lead in lights", and a rider either doesn't see the flag or "doesn't see the flag" and proceeds to jump and then land on or crash into the medical staff and/or downed rider.
This is a very real situation that could now happen if they stick with their decision in regards to this 450 flag debacle and don't make a hard rule otherwise. What a fucking shambles
To recap your sentiment, flag rules are and have been confusing, and people are angry about safety issues....... Yes, that is correct. I literally know people who died because they were landed on. Safety should be the most important thing that the AMA does and unfortunately it is not. If you jump on a red cross you should be penalized. If there are track markers/lights flashing they shouldn't be jumping. The rules they have surrounding this are crazy. This is especially true in the whoops when you have a rider down and yellow flags waving you still have guys blitzing by and its totally legal. You cannot safely blitz whoops if there are medics and track personnel in the area and they do it virtually every weekend. Its a freakin joke.
They've been advertising sports betting like crazy lately. I wonder when those sports books make their payouts.... is it same night or is when they post official results?
Below are the rules from the AMA 2026 rule book. Emphasis added, but the rules speak for themselves and they blatantly ignored them.
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.
6. Penalties are defined in Section 3.1 Violations and Disciplinary Action. If Race Direction determines that
the violation was not blatant or takes place during a sighting or cool down lap, a warning or fine may be
issued
I'm ready for them to bring back "no jumping and passing on yellow"
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