Hair today gone tomorrow
By TMX Archives on 2nd Jan 09
LONG hair is out!This was just one of the new regulations passed by the Motocross GP Commission when it convened in Monaco on the weekend of the Awards Ceremony at the beginning of December.The new ruling, effective from yesterday (January 1), reads: Long hair must be contained within the helmet, so girls like American Ashley Fiolek, whose pony tail swung in the wind last year, will have to find some way of wrapping up her hair in future. One solution would be a scull cap as worn in past years by the likes of Sebastien Tortelli and Gautier Paulin, the alternative is a hair net, for boys too! The reason for the rule clearly derives from concern that the hair could get caught up in a sprocket or spokes.
Although starting aid devices' are forbidden in the Junior and Ladies world championships, blocks' so that they can reach the floor with their feet are specifically allowed though not for short-legged men.
Two new rule amendments derive specifically from incidents last summer.
Gloves, as well as helmet, boots, jeans, protective shirt and chest protector, have long been compulsory the British team were disqualified from the 1982 Trophee des Nations when David Thorpe rejoined the race without hand protection after a crash to give the team the necessary sixth-place result but the disqualification of multi-World SidecarX champion Daniel Willemsen has brought the matter to a head.
The new rule reads: Gloves must be worn at the START of each practice, qualification or race, and is (presumably) specifically worded to preclude exclusion for anyone who disposes of his gloves during a muddy race.
The other major change comes in the wake of the James Stewart incident at the Nations. Marshals are not allowed to assist riders to re-start their motorcycles.
This amends rule 01.2.10 which until now had read: Marshals may assist riders by lifting motorcycles, moving them to a safe place and holding them while repairs or adjustments are made. Any repairs or adjustments must be made by the rider, working alone, with no outside assistance. Marshals may also assist riders to re-start their motorcycles.
On seeking clarification from the FIM, it has been established that the only amendment is to the final sentence, also the intention of the rule makes it quite correct to refer to re-starting the motorcycles', as the marshal may neither kick over the bike, support the bike while the rider does so or assist in bump-starting the engine under compression.
Other new regulations see the establishment of a 65cc class for 12-year-olds at the World Junior series from 2010, white numbers of blue backgrounds for the WMX from 2009, the legalisation of green fuels with their own specifications from 2010, and the opening up of the MX3 GPs to a ride what you want' class in a desperate effort to attract more interest. MX1 bikes had already been allowed to contest the class last summer, now MX2 bikes are also allowed.
Hopefully, the FIM won't also have to permit 85cc machinery in the class soon.