The AMA has reversed its decision to penalize Ricky Carmichael 25 points for a fuel violation resulting from finding trace amounts of lead in his fuel. However, … they imposed a $20,000 fine instead. So, they found a problem due to discrepancies in testing protocols causing them to give back the 25 points but then turn around and fine the team $20,000?
This sounds like one of those “How do we get out of this and save face at the same time?” decisions. Once they realized the penalty was a mistake and everyone called them on it, they reversed it so it wouldn’t upset the points race but then save face by fining his team instead because “a penalty was still appropriate.” What the heck does that mean? Hey, whatever works. Ricky Carmichael has the points back and they are breathing a sigh of relief and everyone has time to come up with a way to test fuel so this won’t happen again.
I hope the AMA gets it together soon or this is going to be a long season.
AMA: AMA/FIM Reach Resolution on Carmichael Penalty
The Kneeslider: AMA Rules Cause More Controversy
hoyt says
You have to wonder (with all of the AMA decisions & indecisions related to racing), is the AMA doing a good job with their role in terms of streetbikes?…
This might be getting off topic a bit, but the opportunity is here for all US-based motorcyclists to discuss one of our biggest lobbyist groups (maybe a separate post would be better?)….
Is the AMA effectively working on safety topics, protecting our rights, etc.?
For example, is the AMA pushing for more stringent laws against cell phone drivers?
It doesn’t seem beyond our computing capability for cell towers to disable cell signals if the cell tower computes the distance and rate at which that signal is moving back and forth from the cell phone (i.e. the person must be in a moving vehicle at x rate). We just need legislation to require cell companies to install this into their towers*. The program can include code that allows the signal to remain connected if the user is connected to 911….
*communication companies are already getting billions, so this wouldn’t cut into their revenue based on reduced, blabbling-while-driving minutes.
It is time to hang up. A woman lost control of her car right in front of me this morning going 50 – 60 mph and slammed head-first into a cement east-west barrier (to avoid a bridge abutment).
hoyt says
problem: passengers should be able to blab away
todd says
The device could be linked to those in-car cameras they keep talking about that detect you falling asleep at the wheel. This camera would detect if you are holding a phone up to your ear or if you are talking and no other persons are present in the vehicle. It would also be linked to the car’s radio so that a person would still be allowed to sing along with the radio – or not.
hoyt says
Todd – I am not sure of the seriousness of your post, but a few thoughts come to mind about my somewhat controversial post…
– I’m not suggesting heavy-handed govt. infringe on our rights or freedom at all. Not everyone is aware that a cell phone broadcasts the holder’s whereabouts even if it is not in use… So, my thought above about cutting the signal if its determined to be coming from a moving vehicle isn’t introducing big brother anymore than he’s already around. In addition, the idea is to determine a signal at a rate of speed, nothing more. So, no freedom is infringed upon in my opinion.
– a whole lot of freedom is infringed upon those victims of accidents caused or compounded by the cell phone driver’s lack of response time
– Police officers should be allowed to determine if a cell was in use at the time of an accident that involved a car with only a driver (nothing more than whether or not minutes were being used)
– the idea above also doesn’t take away someone’s ability to pull over and talk – like they should.
search google for cell phone related accidents and all types of reading is available…
http://www.geocities.com/morganleepena/rebuttal.htm
bikes are “invisible” as it is….cell phone drivers compound that situation exponentially.
Kneeslider – sorry for getting off topic…seeing a senseless & significant accident happen in front of my nose brought this to the forefront in a vivid way.
Ride safe