Image: Supplied.

A strongly-worded statement from Honda HRC Progressive has indicated that American Honda management ‘intends to escalate’ the penalty situation in Arlington that indirectly impacted Jo Shimoda and Hunter Lawrence.

While Lawrence won his first-career 450SX main event and Shimoda was P2 in 250SX East, it was a lack of penalties imposed by AMA race direction post-race that Honda has been left furious about.

Both Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Cooper Webb (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) avoided any sanctions despite appearing to jump under red cross flag conditions, while Shimoda was passed by eventual winner Pierce Brown (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) when he took action for red lights on display in their main event.

“At night’s end, Honda HRC Progressive personnel vigorously disputed the lack of penalties around the red flag incidents in both classes,” a statement from Honda read this afternoon.”On Monday, the AMA released an official statement indicating that it has no plan to apply penalties. The team intends to escalate the issue and is currently reviewing all viable avenues.”

Honda HRC Progressive team manager Lars Lindstrom said: “The bittersweet part is being on the short-end of the stick when it comes to other riders jumping on red flashing lights and red cross flags. In the past, we’ve been penalized more than any other team for this – some deserved, some we didn’t agree with at all.

“In this case, it was clear to us that there were penalties necessary, which should have given us the win in 250s and dramatically increased our 450 points lead.

“The team, Honda management, and I are absolutely infuriated that there wasn’t more done in this situation after what has happened to us in the past for the same things. I am very disappointed with this decision and we will be fighting hard to have it overturned.”

American Honda manager of racing and experiential marketing, Brandon Wilson, explained Honda HRC Progressive’s position on the matter further, seeking improved clarity on track signals and, ultimately, the regulations that are to be enforced by race direction.

“First of all, congratulations to Hunter and Jo,” Wilson commented. “They both rode amazingly, and they made perfect, high-stakes, split-second decisions in the heat of battle. They should receive every benefit that they’re entitled to. Instead, their accomplishments are being partially diluted by mistakes or poor decisions outside their control.

“In the past, our team has been on the losing end of red flag-related penalties more often than we would like. While that was frustrating, we could at least understand that the rules were being applied. Now, suddenly the rulebook is being ignored in favor of tortured explanations about nuanced situations.

“Moving forward, we must get to a place where the rules are being enforced consistently, regardless of the rider or team involved. For the safety of all riders, and to ensure that our sport is respected as a legitimate, professional operation, we are committed to being a part of the solution, and we will work with all relevant parties to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

Senior manager of customer engagement at American Honda, Jeremy McGuire, stated: “Over the course of the past few AMA seasons, I think it’s inarguable that Honda has been held to a different standard when it comes to application of the rules, and I’m honestly not sure why that is.

“Whatever the reason, this weekend was the icing on the cake, with the same on-track situation being interpreted in two totally opposite ways, with the only consistency being that our riders were the ones disadvantaged – despite the fact that they were the ones to correctly follow the letter and spirit of the rules!

“The situation is very confusing for us – let alone the riders on the track. I want to be clear that I stand by our team management and our riders 100 percent in their efforts to do the right thing according to the rulebook that is provided to us by the sport’s sanctioning body.”