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Team M4 EMGO Suzuki not happy with penalty |
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Posted by Staff
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Thursday, 20 September 2007 |
The AMA announced on Thursday that Team M4 EMGO Suzuki's Martin Cardenas was
fined $2000 and docked 20 championship points. The team is bitterly disappointed
in this ruling and will appeal.
After finishing third in the Laguna Seca
Supersport race, Martin's Suzuki GSX-R600 was ruled to have an illegal
modification to the crankcase breather tube in the post-race technical
inspection. Team M4 EMGO Suzuki crew chief Keith Perry had consulted Kevin
Crowther, the head of the AMA technical staff, about this modification in 2006
and received approval to make the change. Team M4 EMGO Suzuki machines passed
tech inspection for the last two seasons with these modifications.
The
team is disappointed the AMA has decided to change their policy without any
notice or warning. Team M4 EMGO Suzuki feels the sanctioning body should operate
in an open and honest manner, one devoted to fair play and consistent decisions.
This ruling and others like it make it difficult for Team M4 EMGO Suzuki and the
other squads to trust the AMA.
"I'm extremely disappointed in the AMA's
ruling and even more disappointed in how some people with the AMA seem to have
selective memory about their discussions," said Perry. "It's more than just one
or two people involved. There are several different teams and individuals that
have been told the same thing. I guess I need a legal secretary and a tape
recorder every time we talk with AMA tech if we can't count on them to remember
what they tell us."
Additionally, crew chief Perry was never notified
via phone or email about the ruling. He found out about it like everyone else,
by reading published reports of the AMA's press release.
"The situation
is mind boggling to us," continued Perry. "We plan to play it out in the appeals
process and we're confident we will win. Obviously, Martin has nothing to do
with the preparation of the bike and we're sorry his name has gotten dragged
into this unfortunate situation."
from M4 EMGO Suzuki press
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