Jeff Ward wore a React radio on the again of his helmet on the 1988 Motocross des Nations—despite the fact that they had been banned by the AMA.
Expensive MXA,
Are AMA Supercross and motocross racers in contact with their pit crews by radio like in NASCAR, Indy automotive and Components 1 drivers?
No. In 1988 a number of groups experimented with radio communications between their riders and the staff, together with the 1988 Motocross des Nations staff, however the AMA felt that it will be a distraction and that it will pressure each rider to have radio contact. Provided that the radios needed to be sufficiently small to suit on the rider’s helmets and every have their very own frequency, it was deemed unfeasible for 40 mechanics to be chattering away on the identical time—nor might the radios help that breadth of channels wanted.
So, halfway by the 1988 season, the AMA handed rule 1.15b, which states, “Digital transmitting of data, together with radio communication to or from a shifting bike, is prohibited.” There have been exceptions for transponders for scoring, video transmitted for tv use and digital timing units.
Now, you may be asking your self this query: If radio communication was banned in the course of the 1988 season, how did Group USA use radios on the Motocross des Nations on the finish of the season? Good query. In 1988, the FIM didn’t ban radio communication. Thus, Group USA might legally use radios in France; nonetheless, as soon as Group USA (Ricky Johnson, Ron Lechien and Jeff Ward) received the 1988 MXDN, the FIM banned radio communication with a GP rule that learn, “Solely the next indicators are allowed between riders/bikes and individuals linked with them: information and pictures from official timekeeping transponders and on-board cameras, pit board messages displayed in permitted areas, and physique language communication by the rider. Radio communication is strictly forbidden.”
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