San Diego SX Post-Race Review: Friese Penalties and Incidents Analyzed
In the aftermath of the San Diego round of the Monster Energy AMA Supercross, the SMX Media team has provided insights into incidents reviewed by Race Direction (RD), shedding light on the penalties imposed during the event.
Vince Friese received a warning and two license points for “disregarding the Blue Flag and blue flag protocol” multiple times during the 450SX main event, where he finished 17th. Notably, he collided with Mitchell Harrison in the final turn while contending for 19th place. Following the race, Harrison expressed his frustration and approached Friese, which led to a physical confrontation after Friese invited him to his team’s rig.
In an interview with Steve Matthes, Harrison detailed the incident, stating, “Friese just charged at me,” resulting in a fight that underscored mounting tensions among competitors.
Further scrutinizing RD’s oversight, the Anaheim 2 event revealed minimal penalties, with emphasis on rider safety and fair competition. Key takeaways from the RD’s review include:
- No penalties were issued during the 250 or 450 qualifying sessions.
- In the 450 main event, Friese was penalized for aggressive riding following a late-race incident. He received a five-point penalty, a fine, and two license points.
- Furthermore, #41 faced a post-race penalty for a code of conduct violation, receiving a fine and one license point.
Friese now accumulates a total of four penalty points on his license after just three rounds. A complete post-race penalty report is forthcoming, expected to enhance understanding of enforcement actions taken during the event.
This detailed analysis underlines the ongoing challenges of maintaining competitive integrity within the highly charged environment of professional motocross racing.
