Hammaker penalty hands Devin Simonson first 250SX podium

AMA Race Direction’s post-race penalties at Round 13 in Nashville reshaped results and championship math after officials enforced track-cutting and red-cross rules. Seth Hammaker was assessed a two-position penalty after a late crash in the 250SX main, dropping him from third to fifth and costing him a podium and the guitar trophy that was later reclaimed. Hammaker had crashed twice, the first before the 180-degree turn leading into the whoops, and after remounting with his bike facing backwards he cut the turn; officials said they applied one penalty for the cut and a separate penalty for gaining a position while off the track, and the sanction was imposed after the checkered flag with Race Direction citing consistency with the rulebook. The demotion elevated Devin Simonson to his first career 250SX podium.

Race Direction issued additional penalties that altered placings and points. Dylan Ferrandis was penalized one position for a cut that moved him from fifth to sixth and promoted Justin Hill to a season-high fifth, though reports differ on whether that demotion was applied in the 250SX or the 450 main. The adjusted 250SX results extended Cole Davies’ championship lead to 29 points with three races remaining. Jeremy Hand, Marcus Phelps, Ryder Floyd, Drew Adams and Luke Clout were each docked five championship points and lost two purse positions for jumping under red cross flag or lights. Derek Kelley received a combined penalty of a one-position demotion, five championship points and a two purse-position deduction for gaining a position while jumping under a red cross flag or light.

Penalties in lower heats also followed track-cutting findings. In the 250 LCQ, Buccheri was penalized 12 positions, accounting for 11 positions gained plus one, and Hudson was penalized three positions for track cuts. Race Direction said it reviewed numerous other incidents from Nashville but did not assess penalties in those cases. The rulings altered immediate race placings and championship points as the series moved on from Round 13.