Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128399
Alessi, Walker Penalized By The AMA It. MA Pro Racing has announced that /"\Mike Alessi and Matt Walker have both been penalized for their on-track actions at the final round of the AMA Motocross Championship on Sunday, September I I, at Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino. According to AMA Pro Racing SX/MX Series manager Steve Whitelock, Alessi has been fined $5000 for his role in an incident involving Ivan Tedesco. In addition, the young KTM star was been disqualified from the Glen Helen results (he won the first moto and finished 22nd in the second moto), which dropped him from second In the overall standings to third. To top it off, the AMA has made it so that Alessi is now ineligible for the AMA Pro Racing Rookie of the Year Award. Additionally, Alessi will receive a 12-month probation that includes the 2006 AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross seasons. Walker, meanwhile, has been reprimanded and fined $2500 for his actions that occurred after the incident between Alessi and Tedesco - where Walker rode backward on the track to aid his teammate Tedesco in his shOVing match with Alessi. Additionally, Walker was disqualified from moto two and will receive a 12month probation that includes the 2006 AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross S~llS.QflS. Walker's. di~uaUfkatiol) results do not change his overall championship standing of ninth. Tedesco will not be penalized. "This entire situation is unfortunate and entirely unacceptable," Whitelock said in an AMA Pro Racing release. "Mike Alessi's actions after he and Ivan Tedesco came together in moto two are clearly outside the boundaries of acceptable sportsmanship and will not be tolerated by AMA Pro Racing. Additionally, Matt Walker's actions are inexcusable." Whitelock said the decision to penalize the riders came after careful review of videotape, still photographs, accounts by AMA Pro Racing officials who witnessed the incident, and statements from the riders. The delay in assessing the penalties is due to a couple of factors, including the fact that AMA officials were atrending the. MQtQ.CrQss Qf Nations in The incident that led to th. incident in th. Mik. AI.ssi case. France and they needed to communicate with the involved riders, each of whom had to be located. Busy postseason schedules by all involved made that process more complicated than usual. Whitelock cited the follOWing rule viola- AMA Superbikes 2006 AMA Pro Racing has released its schedule for the 2006 AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited, with the series featuring a new round at the Miller Motorsports Park located outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. The series also features a return to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, with the AMA program set to run in conjunction with the MotoGP World Championship for a second year. Not long after the schedule was announced, Pikes Peak International Raceway dropped off the calendar with news that the facility would be demolished and the land sold for development (see related news item in this section). That means the series will drop a round (down to 18 races), and the Infineon Raceway round may end up in the vacated PPIR spot. In 10 events in the 2005 campaign, an estimated 55 1,581 fans witnessed the AMA Superbike Championship firsthand, according to AMA Pro Racing - a nearly 25-percent increase over 2004, despite one less event. According to AMA Pro Racing, 2005 marked the first time in the sport's 29-year history that event attendance has climbed over the half-million mark. Since 2000, attendance has grown nearly 68 percent, AMA Pro Racing says. "We're pleased with what we're seeing," AMA Pro Racing CEO Scott Hollingsworth said about the championship. "By all measurables, we're enjoying success. We've got tremendous fan support, a strong television package that's delivering good ratings, and most importantly, a 8 tions from the AMA Motocross Rulebook when levying the penalties: "Page 38, General Offenses and Penalties: i, Engaging in any unfair practice, misbehavior or action detrimental to the sport of motorcycling in general, whether or not related to a specific competition; q, Riding at any time in such a manner as to endanger the life and limb of other riders, officials or the ... public; and w, Any other act or actions deemed by a Series Manager or AMA Pro Racing to be detrimental to the sport of ~ motorcycle racing and the AMA." "Fortunately, we have ample video footage as well as stillphoto sequences that showed this episode," Whitelock said. "We examined the entire situation carefully and arrived at our decision." Each rider has been informed of his penalties. Under AMA Pro Racing rules, each rider has the right to appeal, according to AMA Pro Racing. Mumm's The Word great on-track product. In 2006, our objective is to continue our aggressive marketing of the series by targeting companies that can benefit from being involved with AMA-branded professional motorcycle road racing. Strong growth supports the notion that we're going in the right direction, and we plan on maintaining this momentum." The 2006 AMA 5uperbike Championship is as follows: March 8-11 - Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Florida April 21-23 - Barber Motorsports Park, Birmingham, Alabama (Superbike Doubleheader) April 28·30 - California Speedway, Fontana, Caiifornia (Superbike Doubleheader) May 5-7 - Infineon Raceway, Sonoma, California (Superbike Doubleheader) June 2-4 - Road Arnerica, Elkhart lake, Wisconsin (Superbike Doubleheader) June 16-18 - Miller Motorsports Park, Salt lake City Utah (Superbike Doubleheader) July 21-23 - Mazda Raceway laguna Seca, Monterey, California At its September 23-24 fall board meeting, the BlueRibbon Coalition Board selected Greg Mumm to replace current executive director Clark Collins when he retires at the end of this year. "I've really enjoyed leading the BlueRibbon Coalition to our current level of credibility and prestige," Collins said. "It's been a lot of fun and a big challenge. Now, I'm looking forward to helping Greg take it to the next level." "The board reviewed a field of outstanding candidates from across the country and selected board member Greg Mumm as the best person to fill the executive director position," BlueRibbon Board chairman jack Welch affirmed. "BlueRibbon continues to have a bright future, and Greg will provide the leadership to grow the Coalition's resources for years to come." Incoming executive director Mumm is an avid off-highway-vehicle enthusiast from South Dakota and has served in a leadership capacity in the Toyota Land Cruisers Association for many years, according to the BRC. "I am excited," Mumm said concerning his future with the BlueRibbon Coalition. "Clark Collins is turning over a solid organization and staff around which I can continue to expand the BRC sphere of innuence. We have lots to do on behalf of over 600,000 good folks across this nation, and I can't wait to roll up my sleeves and get started." Woodford Wins Indiana National HS Kawasaki Team Green's Chuck Woodford won the ninth round of the AMA National Hare Scrambles in Lynnville, Indiana, on October 2. It was the second August 4-6 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, lexington, Ohio (Superbike Doubleheader) win of the year for the series points leader. August 25-27 - Virginia International Raceway, Alton, Virginia (Superbike Doubleheader) * Columbus, Indiana, was third, followed by Suzuki rider jehi Willis of Australia and September 1-3 - Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia (Superbike Doubleheader) • Tentative, subject to change oaOBER 12, 2005 • CYCLE NEWS Second place went to KTM's Robbie jenks. Suzuki-mounted jeff Cregg of KTM's Richard Lafferty. With just on round left, Woodford holds an 18-point lead over the injured jason Raines.