AMA Updates Procedures Around Lead-In and Red Lights

aees
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2/26/2026 2:03pm
Jkawi wrote:

All I know is it is very likely that the AMA and Aeees or whatever the f*** went to the same school and got educated together.

Aees fighting for his life in these comments hoping he’ll get a “that makes sense” just once, lol

Way passed the point in life when I need other to validate me.

Hope you get the thumps up you are looking for with your comment 😉

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17
2/26/2026 2:09pm
Jkawi wrote:

All I know is it is very likely that the AMA and Aeees or whatever the f*** went to the same school and got educated together.

Aees fighting for his life in these comments hoping he’ll get a “that makes sense” just once, lol

aees wrote:

Way passed the point in life when I need other to validate me.

Hope you get the thumps up you are looking for with your comment 😉

Oh it's abundantly clear you don't care what 100% of everyone else on here thinks of you. You clearly get all the validation you need from your supposed credentials and experience. 

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prozach
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1000019720 0
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GrapeApe
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2/26/2026 2:11pm
aees wrote:
Yes, but the problem has been that riders incl Jett and Honda complained after his incident in 2024 that certain flags are difficult to see, or...

Yes, but the problem has been that riders incl Jett and Honda complained after his incident in 2024 that certain flags are difficult to see, or impossible.

Either you have a warning, and be prepared to let it go if system fails, or you remove warning and continue as usual. Can't have it both way.

Statistically, I'm pretty sure that lead in lights will fail less often than riders will miss the red cross on step jumps. We have seen that over and over again. So this system should be more safe, but it ain't going to be perfect.

Will less riders jump on red cross now all in all, probably yes.

It's like people saying self driving cars will kill people because they miss something a normal driver wouldn't miss. Yes it will happen. But overall, it will be safer for everyone.

GrapeApe wrote:
That's a lot of words to say . . . well, I don't really know what your saying. Is it your understanding that riders can jump...

That's a lot of words to say . . . well, I don't really know what your saying. Is it your understanding that riders can jump the finish line jump with a red cross flag displayed if there was no prior "yellow lead in caution"? Just a quick yes or no is fine.

aees wrote:
Yes. I can't see they are changing that for this weekend. They are claiming right call was made, and they haven't released anything saying they will...

Yes. I can't see they are changing that for this weekend. They are claiming right call was made, and they haven't released anything saying they will judge it differently going fwd. If so, there is no need for lead in lights. It would just be normal yellow lights.

Do you agree with that call? If I come around the corner and don't see a yellow lead-in caution light but clearly see a red cross flag being displayed on the jump, should I send it?

 

2

The Shop

NorCal1975
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2/26/2026 2:12pm
NV825 wrote:

Eli, Coop, and Kenny should have all been retroactively docked championship points if the red cross flag penalty remains unchanged. WTF?

Could Eli have pulled up without killing himself though?   I thought flag came out as he was on the ramp.... 

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NickoBrap
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2/26/2026 2:18pm
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aees
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2/26/2026 2:40pm Edited Date/Time 2/26/2026 2:42pm
GrapeApe wrote:
That's a lot of words to say . . . well, I don't really know what your saying. Is it your understanding that riders can jump...

That's a lot of words to say . . . well, I don't really know what your saying. Is it your understanding that riders can jump the finish line jump with a red cross flag displayed if there was no prior "yellow lead in caution"? Just a quick yes or no is fine.

aees wrote:
Yes. I can't see they are changing that for this weekend. They are claiming right call was made, and they haven't released anything saying they will...

Yes. I can't see they are changing that for this weekend. They are claiming right call was made, and they haven't released anything saying they will judge it differently going fwd. If so, there is no need for lead in lights. It would just be normal yellow lights.

GrapeApe wrote:
Do you agree with that call? If I come around the corner and don't see a yellow lead-in caution light but clearly see a red cross...

Do you agree with that call? If I come around the corner and don't see a yellow lead-in caution light but clearly see a red cross flag being displayed on the jump, should I send it?

 

I don't think any rider will send it if they see it. It's possibly career ending not knowing what is on the other side. So i don't agree with jumping it.

But You can't have it both ways as I see it (edit).

You have three options, (or suggest another that makes sense if you want):

1. Riders wants warning lights to rely on for red cross flag. You give them warning lights or flags that is only used when there is a red cross. 

Net outcome will be, less riders will miss red flag because they see the warning lights before. If lights are out (if that happens again, ever) will that amount of riders be bigger than what is happening today already when they miss the flag? I don't think so. No one will jump that sees it. Worst case, it's the same as 2. It's likely a net positive effect.

2. You don't give them warning lights. Amount of riders that jump against red cross will continue as is, as last weekend. There is nothing gained at all. More riders will jump against red cross than in scenario 1.

3. You could implement normal yellow lights before finish line (etc) that doesn't work in pair with red cross. You would still have to say it's for specific sections they will apply because you won't have yellows everywhere on the track leading up to a red cross. In this case you continue to penalize red cross jumping even if there is no warning light visible. For the riders I'm pretty sure they will consider this as eating the cookie and keeping. This must have been the obvious go-to solution but for some reason it ain't considered.

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Tyler D
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2/26/2026 2:49pm
prozach wrote:
1000019720 0

honestly, a projector maybe isnt the worst idea. satisfies the peripheral thing JT brings up

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Crush
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2/26/2026 3:17pm

How much caution can be shown if you indeed still jump a massive jump?

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300exc
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2/26/2026 3:25pm
aees wrote:
Only reason I can see is that Lead in work as a pair/one function with flag, lead in and flag after. If one doesn't work, the...

Only reason I can see is that Lead in work as a pair/one function with flag, lead in and flag after. If one doesn't work, the function fall (no penalty as last weekend). 

It would be the same if a red cross always should be lead by a yellow flag. But maybe that isn't feasible everywhere and then red cross would be invalid in for example whoops or other places where there is clear sight of just a red cross flag. Basically you would need double staff on all places where you could potentially only have a red cross.

Lead in only used on hard to see places.

 

GrapeApe wrote:
If you're right that means riders can knowingly jump on a red cross flag if someone forgot to flip the light switch. That would be insane.Yellow...

If you're right that means riders can knowingly jump on a red cross flag if someone forgot to flip the light switch. That would be insane.

Yellow is yellow, it means be alert something is coming up you'll want to see - rider down, tuff block on the track, red cross flag, MasterCraft, whatever.

aees wrote:
Yes, but the problem has been that riders incl Jett and Honda complained after his incident in 2024 that certain flags are difficult to see, or...

Yes, but the problem has been that riders incl Jett and Honda complained after his incident in 2024 that certain flags are difficult to see, or impossible.

Either you have a warning, and be prepared to let it go if system fails, or you remove warning and continue as usual. Can't have it both way.

Statistically, I'm pretty sure that lead in lights will fail less often than riders will miss the red cross on step jumps. We have seen that over and over again. So this system should be more safe, but it ain't going to be perfect.

Will less riders jump on red cross now all in all, probably yes.

It's like people saying self driving cars will kill people because they miss something a normal driver wouldn't miss. Yes it will happen. But overall, it will be safer for everyone.

The the lights have never failed. Only the operators.

 

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KurtJ99
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2/26/2026 3:35pm

If Tomac DID roll and Webb and Kenny passed him - would this lead-in light race director discretion exemption still hold water? And I don't think the rewrite does (or should) provide an exemption if the lights are off and the flag is out. Sounds like the same window for race director discretion is still there and this problem will recur. 

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matt.3150
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2/26/2026 5:01pm

Well the AMA will change its mind depending on the Team and the rider that’s for sure. 

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bvm111
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2/26/2026 6:02pm
image 537
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SEEMEFIRST
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2/26/2026 6:21pm
sumdood wrote:
Red Lights and Red Cross Flag – No Rule ChangeThere are no changes to the current rulebook regarding Red Lights or the Red Cross Flag...

Red Lights and Red Cross Flag – No Rule Change

There are no changes to the current rulebook regarding Red Lights or the Red Cross Flag.

Red Lights and the Red Cross Flag:

Indicates a significant safety concern and takes precedence over all other flags.

 

Should it be And / Or ?  It reads like both need to be seen together. Not trying to be a pain but if the goal is to simplify the rule, shouldn't "Or" be in there ?  

I think one is flashing and one ain't. 

It all makes perfect sense. 

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mx251
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2/26/2026 6:24pm
sumdood wrote:
Red Lights and Red Cross Flag – No Rule ChangeThere are no changes to the current rulebook regarding Red Lights or the Red Cross Flag...

Red Lights and Red Cross Flag – No Rule Change

There are no changes to the current rulebook regarding Red Lights or the Red Cross Flag.

Red Lights and the Red Cross Flag:

Indicates a significant safety concern and takes precedence over all other flags.

 

Should it be And / Or ?  It reads like both need to be seen together. Not trying to be a pain but if the goal is to simplify the rule, shouldn't "Or" be in there ?  

SEEMEFIRST wrote:

I think one is flashing and one ain't. 

It all makes perfect sense. 

But they go by the lights in a flash!!!

OldTech
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2/26/2026 6:26pm

They read Vital! Now where's my order from the snack shack?

SEEMEFIRST
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2/26/2026 6:37pm
OldTech wrote:

They read Vital! Now where's my order from the snack shack?

The dog roller is a Triumph. It stuck between gears.

It'll be a sec...

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OldTech
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2/26/2026 8:01pm
OldTech wrote:

They read Vital! Now where's my order from the snack shack?

SEEMEFIRST wrote:

The dog roller is a Triumph. It stuck between gears.

It'll be a sec...

I'm actually still a little pissed off about them not letting me flag in 1991 because I didn't have white pants!

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2/26/2026 9:32pm
NorCal1975 wrote:

Could Eli have pulled up without killing himself though?   I thought flag came out as he was on the ramp.... 

Hunter went thru with the Red Cross flag before him, and rolled.  The flag didn’t just come out for Eli and the others as they were going over.

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Motofinne
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2/26/2026 10:59pm

AMA have lost their minds. 

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Aquafresh
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2/26/2026 11:10pm

Its cleat that it was a dificult flag to see since 3 riders jumped.

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CPR
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2/26/2026 11:24pm
Motofinne wrote:

AMA have lost their minds. 

Absent Minds Association 

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super_fan_38
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2/27/2026 12:28am
matt.3150 wrote:

Well the AMA will change its mind depending on the Team and the rider that’s for sure. 

So will vital members. Replace Jo with Deegan and the vital keyboard experts would be arguing how the AMA was using solid jurisprudence in the spirit of the rule book, and that these lead in lights are good for the sport.

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CPR
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2/27/2026 1:09am
matt.3150 wrote:

Well the AMA will change its mind depending on the Team and the rider that’s for sure. 

So will vital members. Replace Jo with Deegan and the vital keyboard experts would be arguing how the AMA was using solid jurisprudence in the spirit...

So will vital members. Replace Jo with Deegan and the vital keyboard experts would be arguing how the AMA was using solid jurisprudence in the spirit of the rule book, and that these lead in lights are good for the sport.

jurisprudence? 😂 give it a break Jimmy.

2
kiwifan
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2/27/2026 1:40am
matt.3150 wrote:

Well the AMA will change its mind depending on the Team and the rider that’s for sure. 

So will vital members. Replace Jo with Deegan and the vital keyboard experts would be arguing how the AMA was using solid jurisprudence in the spirit...

So will vital members. Replace Jo with Deegan and the vital keyboard experts would be arguing how the AMA was using solid jurisprudence in the spirit of the rule book, and that these lead in lights are good for the sport.

Seriously??  

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rileymx
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2/27/2026 4:57am

i have been whatching all this mess from the start......and from the start it has been clear to me that AMA is just doing its thing as always......

the aplication or not of the rule book is depending always on the nationality of the receiving racer, if it afects an american top guy, they go around and around on excuses, sometimes making fouls out of themselves, but never really penalize a local top rider.......but if it is a foreigner rider, then it is by the book whatever were the particular situation or justice of the said penalty......

this as been the trend of AMA penalties since i follow american racing, and all the mess these penalty cases causes in this site and all others where racing is discuss, all comes from the AMA bending of the rulebook to fit each case in the way they pretend to......

this case is evident.....rulebook says no jumping on red flag point ! Jet gets penalize no matter what

now it was americans jumping, so first AMA trys to argue the rules, making themselfes look really bad with it......so AMA changes the rules AFTER the incident to make their call rigth !!!!!

i just hope there will never happen to a racer landing on a paramedic or injured racer.....cuz by the way AMA is playing around with the red cross flag rule, its giving the riders motive to try and jump even if the flag is out.....

so in the end.....congrats to AMA......

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soggy
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2/27/2026 5:10am
Every 10 years it seems there is a massive drama with the AMA/FIM. 1995 - lights go out2006 - fuel gate2015 - Stewgate and ALSO Chad black...

Every 10 years it seems there is a massive drama with the AMA/FIM. 

1995 - lights go out

2006 - fuel gate

2015 - Stewgate and ALSO Chad black flag 

2026 - flag gate 

LOOnatic wrote:

Don't forget Lime gate!

That’s feld 

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soggy
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2/27/2026 5:12am
matt.3150 wrote:

Well the AMA will change its mind depending on the Team and the rider that’s for sure. 

So will vital members. Replace Jo with Deegan and the vital keyboard experts would be arguing how the AMA was using solid jurisprudence in the spirit...

So will vital members. Replace Jo with Deegan and the vital keyboard experts would be arguing how the AMA was using solid jurisprudence in the spirit of the rule book, and that these lead in lights are good for the sport.

CPR wrote:

jurisprudence? 😂 give it a break Jimmy.

Ahhhh that’s who he is eh?  The old jsloan?

1
Deadric
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2/27/2026 5:47am Edited Date/Time 2/27/2026 5:52am
NV825 wrote:

Eli, Coop, and Kenny should have all been retroactively docked championship points if the red cross flag penalty remains unchanged. WTF?

NorCal1975 wrote:

Could Eli have pulled up without killing himself though?   I thought flag came out as he was on the ramp.... 

No, he couldnt have but its hard to explain that to people that are rolling over jumps in first gear and have 3 business days to react.

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