Results from round seven stand despite ongoing confusion.
AMA officials have confirmed a ‘no violation’ ruling following a review of Saturday night’s red light/cross saga in Arlington, firming the results from round seven of the 2026 Monster Energy Supercross Championship.
While leading the 250SX East main event, Jo Shimoda acknowledged flashing red lights displayed at the double before the finish jump, forcing the Honda HRC Progressive rider to roll the section and surrender significant time.
It enabled Pierce Brown (Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing) to complete what proved to be the race-winning pass, despite also appearing to complete the section under red-light conditions. The situation sparked confusion and protests from Honda post-race.
“It’s a huge morale boost,” Honda HRC Progressive team manager Lars Lindstrom explained. “I mean, both classes, right? We won both classes tonight. I’m not sure if you know that, but Jo really got the short-end of the stick on that red cross thing, which I’m still fighting right now, protesting right now.
“We’ve definitely been penalized [on the] red cross more than any other team and I’ve always accepted that. When the red light’s flashing right before the finish line, Jo did the right thing and he rolled. I feel like now is the time for them to stand by the rule book and do the right penalty, which is loss of a position for the position gained and five championship points.”
From Shimoda’s perspective, he saw the red lights on the up-ramp and rolled the double in accordance with the rules, with the resulting loss of momentum preventing him from clearing the finish double. That sequence, he said, may have cost him as much as three seconds.
“I did see a red light on the double, so I had to slow down,” the 250SMX champion recalled. “I had to roll the jump and I couldn’t get enough momentum to jump the finish line because the finish line [lights] weren’t on, but yeah, when I went through it was red, but no one was down.
“It wouldn’t make sense to me if someone was down before I hit the jump and right when I rolled the jump, it turned off… [that] makes sense, but if not, then I think it’s fair enough to have the points given to me. I think it was like two and a half [to] three seconds – I couldn’t jump this whole rhythm section, so it was big. Three points matter, maybe at the end of the year, but we’ll see.”
Communication on Sunday indicates that the ‘lead in warning light and finish line red lights were reviewed. No violation was determined.’ That declaration means that Brown will hold onto his first-career 250SX victory, with Shimoda credited second position.
In the 450SX, red-cross confusion involving Eli Tomac (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb during the main event was described as a ‘clear-cut’ penalty by Lindstrom.
“That one is clear cut,” continued Lindstrom. “I don’t see how there’s any question on that one. So I mean, they’re going to be losing some points on that one, and I don’t think they gained any positions, so I guess they won’t get that, but that definitely helps us out. I think it’s five points, so I think [Hunter Lawrence’s] lead went from four points to nine points now, which is just, you know, significant – I can’t see that one being a question.”
However, following the review by race direction, a ‘no violation’ ruling was again issued: ‘Red light/red cross flag incident involving the leaders at the finish line jump was reviewed. No violation was determined.’