AMA Pro Racing announced today that Mike Alessi and Matt Walker have both been penalized for their on-track actions at the final round of the AMA Motocross Championship, Sunday, Sept. 11 at Glen Helen raceway in San Bernardino.
According to AMA Pro Racing SX/MX Series Manager, Steve Whitelock, for his role in an incident involving Ivan Tedesco, Alessi has been fined $5,000, has been disqualified from the meet, and becomes ineligible for the AMA Pro Racing Rookie of the Year Award. Additionally, Alessi will receive a 12-month probation which includes the 2006 AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross seasons. Alessi's disqualification drops him from second to third in the overall championship standings.
Matt Walker has been reprimanded and fined $2,500 for his actions which occurred after the incident between Alessi and Tedesco. Additionally, Walker is disqualified from moto two and will receive a 12-month probation which includes the 2006 AMA Supercross and AMA Motocross seasons. Walker's disqualification results in no change to his overall championship standing of ninth.
Tedesco will not be penalized.
"This entire situation is unfortunate and entirely unacceptable," commented Whitelock. "Mike Alessi's actions after he and Ivan Tedesco came together in moto two are clearly outside the boundaries of acceptable sportsmanship and will not be tolerated by AMA Pro Racing. Additionally, Matt Walker's actions are inexcusable."
Whitelock said the decision to penalize the riders came after careful review of videotape, still photographs, accounts by AMA Pro Racing officials who witnessed the incident and statements from the riders. The delay in assessing the penalties is due to a couple of factors including the fact that AMA officials were attending the Motocross of Nations in France and the need to communicate with the involved riders each of whom had to be located. Busy post-season schedules by all involved made that process more complicated than usual.
Whitelock cited the following rule violations from the AMA Motocross Rulebook when levying the penalties "Page 38, General Offenses and Penalties, i, Engaging in any unfair practice, misbehavior or action detrimental to the sport of motorcycling in general, whether or not related to a specific competition. q, Riding at any time in such a manner as to endanger the life and limb of other riders, officials or the public, and w, Any other act or actions deemed by a Series Manager or AMA Pro Racing to be detrimental to the sport of motorcycle racing and the AMA.
"Fortunately, we have ample video footage as well as still photo sequences that showed this episode," said Whitelock. "We examined the entire situation carefully and arrived at our decision."
Each rider has been informed of his penalties. Under AMA Pro Racing rules each rider has the right to appeal.