Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Kawasaki Racing Team Manager Michael Preston said he is disappointed with a 20-point penalty and $2000 fine recently levied against rider Tommy Hayden by AMA Pro Racing, related to Hayden’s Superstock win at California Speedway April 5.

“For sure, we’re disappointed,” said Preston in a telephone interview late Wednesday, May 7. “The most important thing is we didn’t do it maliciously or to go against the rules. We don’t think it’s a performance enhancing thing.

“They (AMA Pro Racing) said it was machining. There was no machining there. This year you’re allowed to machine the gasket surfaces, and we’ve machined the gasket surfaces. What’s happened is our guy there has de-burred around the valve pockets, and they’re basically saying it’s against the rules and we can’t de-burr — something everybody does, break off sharp edges.”

Preston said AMA Pro Racing officials impounded cylinder heads from both Hayden’s and Tony Meiring’s Kawasaki ZX-6Rs, but only Hayden’s was found illegal during inspections carried out during the event at Infineon Raceway.

“Different assemblers and people who machine them, but like I said we’re pretty flabbergasted. They’re the same thing,” said Preston. “We ran a head that we had them check and approve for this weekend (at Infineon Raceway), and we had the same results (victory in Superstock). So I’m even more frustrated. But they are the governing body and they set the rules and they have judgments…I guess we have to live by them whether we agree with them or not. It’s real difficult for us.

“It wasn’t malicious. It wasn’t trying to read a gray area. We’re not looking at a performance gain. It’s a practice that everybody does. Probably the biggest factor I have for us is I feel ashamed for our team, (but) I’m really embarrassed for Tommy. He’s doing his job, and he’s expecting us to do our job. I feel that we’ve let him down somewhat, but I don’t know. What are you gonna do?”

Preston said that instead of appeal the penalty, Hayden will take his now-six-point (down from 26-point) lead in the Superstock class and “just win some more races.”