AMA Takes Action On Kyle Chisholm

Kit Palmer | April 28, 2009

The AMA officially responded to the incident at the Salt Lake City Supercross that involved L&M San Manuel Team rider Kyle Chisholm today, handing down a disqualification from the Salt Lake race and a suspension from all forms of AMA and/or FIM-sanctioned competition for the Floridian until May 3 – the day after the season-ending Las Vegas Supercross.

The AMA’s response comes a day after Chisholm’s team issued a release stating that the FIM, which sanctions the Supercross (450) class, had disqualified, fined and suspended him for interfering with the progress of the leaders of the race, including Chad Reed and Chisholm’s teammate James Stewart. Chisholm was being lapped at the time of the incident and was punished for not immediately responding to the black flag, which he received moments after the incident.

According to the AMA, Chisholm violated Appendix A2.3, paragraph “i,” of the AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, rulebook, which prohibits “engaging in any unfair practice, misbehavior, or action detrimental to the sport of motorcycling in general…” Chisholm also violated Appendix A.2.3 paragraph “o” which prohibits “failing to immediately respect and comply with the operational or warning flags/lights or other signals from Racing officials” when he remained on track after being shown the black flag.

“I know I made a mistake during the race and take full responsibility for my actions,” Chisholm said in the L&M release. “It was never my intention to make contact with James Stewart or Chad Reed, however, I must respect the ruling of the FIM and accept the consequences as a result. I want to express my sincere apologies to our team, our sponsors and to race fans everywhere.”

With one round left in the Supercross series to be run this Saturday in Las Vegas, and with just five points separating series leader Stewart from Reed, the AMA and the FIM, it seems, have made it clear that neither sanctioning bodies will tolerate any questionable riding actions on the track that might interfere with this year’s close battle for the 2009 Championship.