TT racer fined just ?250 over yellow flag claims

A racer at the 2010 Isle of Man TT was fined for failing to act 'appropriately' when riding through yellow flags, the event's organisers have confirmed after a week of speculation.

ACU Events, which runs the racing during the TT, said one rider had been fined just ?250 despite the organisers having the power to disqualify competitors or even revoke their competition licence.

The ACU has also refused to name the rider who was fined.

Yellow flags are shown at the scenes of incidents and racers are expected to slow and be prepared to stop. It is understood complaints about riders failing to observe the flags revolved around an incident during the Superstock race and during two incidents in the second Supersport race in which riders Paul Dobbs and Martin Loicht died.

After rumblings of discontent on internet forums, the organisers confirmed an investigation into complaints yellow flags had been ignored was under way on the morning of the final race of the 2010 TT.

The confirmation of an investigation did little to dispel the disquiet, with rumours marshals were prepared to withdraw their voluntary support of the event and some internet forums seeing contributors trying to guess who the riders involved were.

Leading riders were named on the forums, one of which saw contributions made by racers.

As the row rumbled on, the organisers remained silent until a week later when a statement was issued. Although ACU Events will hope the statement draws a line under the issue, few will be satisfied that a fine of just ?250 was imposed, while others - notably racers who had been wrongly named as having ignored yellow warning flags - will remain unhappy that the punished rider's name has not been released.

The ACU statement said all competitors attended a formal briefing on the TT before the first practice session, when a representative from the TT Marshals Association gave practical demonstrations of the various flag signals riders might encounter and the appropriate response.

The statement continued:

"ACU Events Race Direction received reports from the Marshals of incidents where they believed riders had ignored a yellow flag situation, requesting that they slow down as an incident had occurred further ahead on the course."

"The ACU Events Race Direction reviewed these reports, including interviewing each of the riders reported individually, and decided that in one instance a rider did not act appropriately in a yellow flag situation. That rider has been fined ?250."

"As the organisers of the races, ACU Events considers that failure to respond appropriately to a yellow flag situation is an extremely serious offence and retains the right to disqualify a rider from a race or revoke his licence to compete if the situation is justified."

"The ACU Events Race Direction will not tolerate any instances, if proven, of riders acting in this manner. The ACU Events Race Direction will utilise any means available to ascertain whether a rider is guilty of racing through yellow flags. Without a formal report being submitted or other evidence becoming available, ACU Race Direction is unable to act on any allegations made."

The statement conclude ACU Events will continue to work with riders and marshals ahead of the 2011 TT "to ensure ongoing improvements are made in this area".