An appeals board has criticized AMA Pro Racing’s handling of a fuel sample and has reduced a penalty accessed against Jay Springsteen after the fuel from his dirt tracker failed a specific gravity test.

Historically, members of an appeal board, which is composed of volunteers assembled on a case-by-case basis, have not been asked back (to serve on another appeals board) if they do not rule in favor of AMA Pro Racing officials or if they criticize AMA handling of a case.

An AMA press release on the Springsteen case follows:

“PICKERINGTON, Ohio — Jay Springsteen was disqualified from his third-place finish in Houston on April 21 for having illegal fuel. Springsteen appealed the disqualification and an appeals board heard the evidence on May 24 and saw fit to modify Springsteen’s penalty. The penalty modification allows Springsteen to get eight of his original 16 championship points from the race reinstated and he has been assessed a fine of $500.

“The appeals board found that while the fuel collected from Springsteen’s race bike was below the minimum specific gravity, it was so by just two thousandths (the lower specific gravity limit is .715, Springsteen’s fuel was found to be .713). While the fuel was technically illegal, the board found no intent by Springsteen’s team to violate the rules. Further, the board found that AMA Pro Racing technical officials made an error in collecting the sample. This error, which involved not getting proper signatures on the sample, did figure in the board’s decision to modify Springsteen’s penalty. The board also felt that the fuel violation did not provide Springsteen with a significant performance advantage.

“In consideration of all the evidence the board came to its decision to assess Springsteen a $500 fine and a loss of half of the championship points he originally earned in the Houston round.
The board cautioned that future fuel violations would result in disqualification. It further recommended that AMA Pro Racing officials take steps to ensure that fuel sample handling procedures are beyond reproach.”