ANAHEIM, CA — Austin Forkner receives a two position penalty after cutting the track in the 250SX Main Event at Anaheim 1 on Lap 12 after crashing while leading.
Forkner led most of the laps when his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki collided with the Tuff Blox just before the second whoop section. He was able to stay standing, but not without eventual winner Justin Cooper and defending 250 West champion Dylan Ferrandis getting by him while he recovered.
“I didn’t land right on them [tuff blocks], I just scraped my pegs until I stopped,” explained Forkner in the press conference. “I knew Justin would get by me, I didn’t know who was in third and fourth. Dylan got me, but I was just trying not to fall down.”
In the heat of the moment, Forkner appeared to minimize his mistake as much as possible. He admitted to cutting the track in the press conference, but explained his unique situation further.
“The bike shot to the left,” said Forkner sharing his perspective of his situation. “If I would have turned around, I would have been facing the track—I could see guys coming down the rhythm lane. I entered the track, I thought in a pretty safe way, and I let Dylan go back around. I slowed up.”
The Kawasaki rider would go on to finish third, but understood what, at the time, may be headed his way.
“In those situations it’s hard to know the right thing to do,” he continued. “It was just a quick decision, I thought I made the right decision, but that answer will come from higher up than me.”
That answer did come from higher up. The AMA Supercross officials announced on Saturday that Forkner would receive a two spot penalty, stripping him of his podium finish. That would move GEICO Honda rider Christian Craig up to the third and final podium step, and Rockstar Energy Husqvarna rider Michael Mosiman into the fourth position. No further penalties were announced and are not expected.