IN
THE
WIND
P32
GAUTHIER
SUSPENDED
O
ne of flat track's most promising
rising stars is in big trouble with the
AMA. Gauthier, winner of the first three
AFT Singles races of the 2017 American
Flat Track Series, has been disqualified
and suspended by the AMA for violating
its substance abuse policy.
On Wednesday, April 12, the AMA is-
sued this release:
Dalton Gauthier, rider of the No. 22
motorcycle in American Flat Track's
AFT Singles class, has been disquali-
fied from the Charlotte Half-Mile and
suspended indefinitely from AMA Pro
Racing for violating the sanctioning
body's substance abuse policy.
On April 1, 2017, Gauthier was found
to have violated Section B (AMA Pro
Racing substance abuse policy) of the
2017 American Flat Track rulebook.
Gauthier's AMA Pro Racing competi-
tion license will remain suspended in-
definitely, pending successful comple-
tion of the Road to Recovery Program
as outlined in the 2017 American Flat
Track rulebook.
Gauthier responded to the suspension
by saying via his Facebook page: "I had
marijuana in my system when I was tested
at the Charlotte Half- Mile. I'm 18 years old
and made a rookie mistake. I take full re-
sponsibility for my actions; it was nobody's
fault but my own. The rules are clear, and I
violated them. My season is off to such an
incredible start, a distraction like this is not
what anyone wanted to see. I apologize to
my sponsors, my fans, and everyone in-
volved with American Flat Track. I am dis-
appointed in myself, learned a big lesson,
and promise this will never happen again.
I plan to complete the Road to Recovery
Program as soon as possible so I can get
back to racing. When I'm back, I'll be gun-
ning for the championship like always."
Gauthier's suspension has already
been reflected in the 2017 standings,
which is now showing Kolby Carlile as
the points leader with 48 points, followed
by Shayna Texter and Ben Lowe with 40
points each. Gauthier has been stripped
of all points. CN
Dalton Gauthier,
winner of the
first three
rounds of the
AFT Series in
the Singles
class, failed a
drug test at the
Charlotte Half
Mile and has
been suspended
by AMA Pro
Racing.
PHOTOGRAPHY
BY
DAVE
HOENIG
