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US Superbike: AMA Overturns
Penalties
AMA Racing has overturned the penalties
assessed to riders Martin Cardenas, Jake Holden and Aaron Yates
at the season-ending AMA Superbike Championship event at Mazda
Raceway Laguna Seca on Sept. 16, 2007 after conducting a thorough
review of the evidence submitted in appeal.
The infractions concerned page 31, section 3.5 Engines, b, of
the 2007 AMA Superbike Rulebook: "Except as noted, all internal
and external engine parts must remain stock with no modification"
During post race technical inspection, AMA technical officials
concluded that modifications had been made to the crankcase breather
tube on each rider's motorcycle. The penalties assessed were
a $2000 fine and loss of 20 championship points for each rider.
The Appellants submitted evidence arguing that the routing of
the crank case breather tube had been previously approved and
that the parts in question had successfully passed a number of
previous inspections. In addition, the teams submitted evidence
that suggested that the modifications permitted within the guidelines
of the current rulebook were largely subjective as it relates
to enforcement of the rule.
In reviewing the initial decision, AMA Racing considered several
factors.
- Motorcycles, parts and equipment are not automatically
approved by having passed inspection at any previous time.
- There are two sections of the rulebook pertaining to this
issue that could be construed as contradictory. As per the general
equipment standards section of the rulebook, the modification
in question is allowed in all AMA Road Racing classes.
Given these facts, it is the decision of the AMA to overturn
the original penalties. In addition, AMA Racing will implement
the following:
- The AMA Superbike Rulebook will be modified to remove
the conflicting statements regarding this technical issue. In
addition, written clarification on this topic will be distributed
to all teams.
- In the future, any modification to the existing rules
is only deemed valid if teams have received written documentation
from AMA Racing. Teams and Riders are encouraged to submit all
requests for rule clarifications or interpretations to AMA Racing
technical staff. Staff will review each request and then distribute
a written Competition Bulletin to all participants.
As a result of this decision, Cardenas, Holden and Yates will
have their championship points reinstated and fines returned.
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