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Reed's actions are the total reason he got the black flag and thus has stirred up this mess.
Reed got the black flag for blatantly retaliating against Canard causing him to crash in a non racing move immediately after the two came together while racing for position and right in front of the officials. It's as simple as that. It will get you a black flag or worse every time.
Reed said it was a bonehead move on his part but has also said he would do it again. Sounds smart doesn't it.
If Canard hadn't have went down there probably wouldn't have been a black flag but there would most assuredly been some consequence for Reed's actions. What Reed did and the manner in which he did it were too blatant and stupid to ignore and let slide in any form or fashion.
It would of happened to anyone, not just Reed, but Reed has apparently felt discriminated against on several occasions. Of course he is also the guy that has burned more bridges than any other rider of his caliber and is now putting quit a bit of his own money into that money pit of a team instead of having multiple options to be paid well based on his past performance and future performance potential..
Remember the red plate fiasco? Reed didn't want to play by the rule book then and looked like a chump with his protest. He didn't feel it was right, even though it was right there in the rules how that would work.
Reed pulled the victim card with the county and/or surrounding neighbors over the track addition deal at home which was against the rules. Once again he didn't like the rules that were in place and just decided to do it his own way.
There are other instances as well. What it all boils down to is if Reed doesn't like the rules or gets himself into hot water over not abiding by them he pitches a big ass fit under the claim that he is "just telling it like it is."
His MX/SX accomplishments are stellar, in fact some of the best ever and he is probably the most savvy rider on the track. Unfortunately he is his own worst enemy and has proven that on several occasions by his actions and words.
It's sad to see a person who has done so well coming from where he started to always be in the messes that he gets himself into.
I wish he would just put his head down and race, letting his results speak for themselves.
He keeps alluding to how things would be done in F1, maybe that will be an option for him in the future.
Pit Row
No problem.
Don't you have a job or something you need to be paying attention to?
There are some situations where a court will intervene to assure someone losing vocational privileges receives due process where the activity is regulated by a quasi-public board (example, discipline of doctors or other licensed professionals), but the FIM and motorcycle racing are a bit of a square peg for that hole.
So, yeah, I do think in the end for it to work it takes people getting serious about responding constructively to situations that reveal flaws in the current system. It doesn't mean the original decision was wrong; the flaw might be that the way the result was arrived at eroded rather than bolstered confidence that the decision was arrived at fairly regardless whether the rider disagrees with the finding of fault (Chad doesn't) or the penalty (which I think Chad does, although it seems like he's tried more to kick the legs out from under Gallagher). It means that all the stakeholders recognize that the best way to do something like this is the way that encourages confidence in the fairness of the process. That doesn't mean it's not messy, especially when the trigger was controversial and of great consequence. Shoot, most of the time it is a mess that provokes change, but that's an opportunity if people keep their heads.
I'd be surprised if something constructive doesn't happen soon. But I don't think you will see any franchising body not have a race director with authority to black flag and/or immediately disqualify a rider for a clear violation implicating safety reasons. Even at the risk of the official getting it wrong, because the safety issues are primary no matter what the fallout is afterwards. And SX doesn't make it easier, because there is very little time to resolve something if it may go bad quickly; you have to imagine everyone involved is queasy about their riders' health from January to May, and it's going to be interesting to see how the wrestle with what's been a pretty electric season so far in terms of banging.
Reed very well could have then finished the race under a warning advisement, then reviewed after the race and fined/probation as per rules or previous judgements.
I think folks have said all they can say at this point without repeating themselves, even about the alternative that would work better, at least until someone in a position to do something puts a tangible change or proposal that might go into play up for discussion.
If won, Reed will not get points. He will dethrone Gallagher and maybe end up with some coin. Or just one or the other.
Post a reply to: "Now it's up to the lawyers."