23-02-2025
Supercross Riders React to Detroit Red Flag Ruling in 250 Class
Last week in Detroit, Max Anstie was seconds away from winning the first two rounds of the 250SX East division.
However, the race was red flagged that officials declared would require a restart. It erased an over five second lead held by Max Anstie with less than 10 seconds remaining on the Main Event clock. What appeared to be his second consecutive win ended up with him in second behind Detroit winner Levi Kitchen.
Many competitors were not aware of the rule change made in 2024. In previous years, the race would be declared official if 90% of the clock had passed. For the last year and a half, the rule was updated to require the clock to be fully expired.
Aaron Plessinger was one of those unaware of the change.
'I'm not really a rule breaker, so I don't have to pay attention to it that much,' said Plessinger.
In his eleventh year of AMA Pro competition, Plessinger has respected experience across the industry. He was Rookie of the Year for both indoor Supercross and outdoor Motocross in 2015 and boasts eight career Supercross wins in 250 and one Supercross victory in 450.
The Ohio native was simply not a fan of the rule change.
'I never heard or saw anything about it being changed, but I do feel like if 90% of the race is done, it should be done,' he stated. 'I don't think they should line back up and restart it. If there's seven seconds on the clock, I think at that point it's like, 'Alright, we did 90% and that's good enough for us.'
'I like the old rule.'
As talented as he is, Cole Davies, 17, sits on the opposite end of experience. The New Zealand rookie earned four Supercross Futures podiums with two victories. In just the opening four races of his professional career in the 250SX West division, he has admittedly turned heads to his early success with two podium finishes so far this year.
Even he was confused from the situation and caught off guard from the ruling.
'I wasn't aware of that (rule change),' said Davies. 'I was kind of shocked at what happened there. I surely didn't think they were going to red flag it.'
He also shared that he has never had a situation like that before from club racing as a kid.
'Honestly, I couldn't even tell you (how to handle that situation),' he continued. 'I haven't even had a red flag. I can tell you if that happens, but right now, I don't know.'
As is true with all competitors, the rivalries will always be overshadowed by comradery. Malcolm Stewart, who won his first career 450SX race in Tampa, made that point clear.
'To be honest with you, I always tell myself that I hope and pray that none of these riders ever come across that,' said the Florida native. 'Anytime we see a red flag, no matter who, you just hope and pray that guy's going to be okay and he lives to fight another day. Red flags are bad flags.
'When it comes to that side of things (understanding the rule change), that's what the team manager are supposed to take care of. I just do my job and race that motor bike to the checkered flag.'
Grant Harlan advanced into the Arlington Main Event from a second-place finish in the Last Chance Qualifier spoke on the issue as well. Even though he admitted he hasn't been in a position of leading a Main Event to fully understand Anstie's position, he shared the importance of understand the rule changes at this level of motorsports while arguing in Anstie's favor that he still deserved and earned the win that never came.
'I'm sure it was in the rule book,' said Harlan. 'Normally they (AMA) send an updated one with red highlights to show what the new rules are or if anything changed, so I would imagine if we go in there and look from the one they sent at the beginning of the year, then that was probably in it.
'Just over 90%, in my personal opinion, I feel like Max deserved that win, but the rules are the rules.'
Harlan was yet another rider not aware of the rule change in place for over a year.
