Marvins Big Mistake

[Pat Oshaughnessy]

This could be big at the end of the season. Any comments ? [V]

[Carl Hill]

As close as the points have been this season I could see him missing out on the title by 5-6 points at the end of the year. You could hear in his voice during the interview that he knew he had messed up bad.  It seems like there was another rider a few years ago (Dungey?)that had a win taken away for the same thing. Did they change the rule?

[wfopete]

From RacerX:

Under section 4.16 of the rulebook, it states that a rider must do all of the obstacles individually (i.e. no double, triple, step on/off, etc.) when a red cross or red flashing light is shown. It goes on to say that if Race Direction determines that there was a blatant violation of the rule, the penalty will be as follows (emphasis ours):

A. During practice and qualifying, the loss of the fastest lap time during that session.

B. During Heat or LCQ races, the loss of number of positions gained, plus two additional positions in the final results for that race.

C. During a main event race, if no positions were gained, the penalty will be the points and purse equal to two positions in the final results for that race plus two additional points.

D. During a main event race, if any positions are gained, the loss of number of positions gained plus the points and purse equal to two additional positions in the final results for that race, plus two additional points.

E. During a sighting or cool-down lap, a fine as determined by Race Direction.

F. If at any time Race Direction determines that it was not a blatant violation of the rule, a warning or fine may be issued.

So, in the case of Musquin, no positions were gained, so rule 9C was applied: He was stripped of points and purse equal to two positions (this case first to third) and an additional two points. That resulted in a seven-point penalty in the championship for Musquin.

Some fans may remember Ryan Dungey being stripped of a win for jumping through a red cross section in 2016, but the rulebook changed prior to the 2017 season. This new rule was actually enforced in the exact same manner at last year's Indianapolis Supercross, when Jeremy Martin won the race, but was found to have doubled a triple, and was thus still awarded the race win but was stripped of seven championship points.

Pete Petrick
175 Jackpiner
Slow but Good