In what is likely the pettiest protest we have seen filed in recent years, the AMA has ruled in favor of the GEICO / Honda team and their two-time 250SX East Champ, Chase Sexton. At the conclusion of the 2020 Eastern Regional 250SX Championship in Salt Lake City 10 days ago, the Star Racing / Monster Energy / Yamaha team filed a protest against Sexton’s racing fuel, saying they thought he was running illegal fuel. The AMA ruled today that Sexton and the GEICO team used fuel that “complies with the specifications listed in “Section 1 – General Equipment Standards, 1.10 Fuel Specifications.”
The protest very much felt like a sour grapes situation. I think the Star Racing / Monster Energy / Yamaha team was simply upset over the Sexton and Colt Nichols collision in the heat race—which resulted in a broken hand for Nichols—and the main event red flag while Shane McElrath was leading and Sexton was buried in the pack. Bottom line: Chase Sexton is officially the 2020 Eastern Regional 250SX Champion. Congrats to Chase and the GEICO / Honda team.
You can read the AMA’s official press release below.
2020 Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East Results Finalized
Fuel found to be in compliance with specifications in AMA rulebook
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Following the Monster Energy AMA Supercross 250SX East/West Showdown Main Event on June 21 at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, a protest regarding fuel was filed against the race winner, GEICO Honda team rider Chase Sexton.
After adhering to the Fuel Test Procedures stated in Appendix E of the 2020 AMA Supercross rulebook, Race Direction concluded that “the fuel in question used at the season-ending event complies with the specifications listed in “Section 1 – General Equipment Standards, 1.10 Fuel Specifications.”
Across 9 rounds of racing, Sexton scored 9 more points, 218 to 209, than Monster Energy/Star/Yamaha Racing’s Shane McElrath to earn his second consecutive Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, National No. 1 plate.
The decision of Race Direction is final. Race results are official.
For more information about Monster Energy AMA Supercross, an FIM World Championship, visit amasupercross.com.
About the American Motorcyclist Association
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.