Former VP Steve Burns Racing Fuels Responds as Ricky Carmichael’s Penalty at San Diego Supercross: A Call for Rule Revisions
In a statement issued Steve Burns, the director of research and development for VP Racing Fuels, voiced his disappointment regarding the penalization of legendary motocross rider Ricky Carmichael due to a fuel violation at the recent San Diego Supercross. This incident, which resulted in a points deduction for Carmichael, has once again ignited a debate over the AMA’s fuel regulations, highlighting issues that have persisted for years.
A Long History of Fuel Innovation and Expertise
VP Racing Fuels has been a cornerstone of professional motocross and road racing for more than 25 years. As a trusted supplier for top teams, including Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and KTM, VP has earned a reputation for its cutting-edge fuel technology. The company’s involvement spans across all major forms of racing, making it the official racing fuel supplier of NHRA, the largest sanctioning body in the world. Since its founding in 1975, VP has provided more fuel blends than any other company, solidifying its leadership in the industry.
The company prides itself on its technological expertise, often stating that its racing fuels have powered more championships than any other brand in racing venues where spec fuel rules are not in place. Despite this success, VP finds itself facing criticism and questioning in the wake of Carmichael’s penalty.
The Fuel Violation: What Went Wrong?
The controversy surrounding Carmichael’s disqualification is rooted in a fuel violation linked to the trace presence of lead in his fuel at the San Diego Supercross. The AMA’s investigation into the matter is ongoing, but Burns pointed out that this marks the third time in just three years that a top AMA racer has been penalized due to a fuel-related issue that, according to VP, is more the result of a poorly crafted rule than any wrongdoing by the teams or fuel suppliers.
VP Racing Fuels emphasizes that the issue stems from an internationally applied lead specification of .005 grams per liter, which was set by the FIM for European racing standards. This limit is significantly stricter than the U.S. EPA’s standard of .013 grams per liter. The trace levels of lead involved in these cases, Burns argues, have no measurable effect on fuel performance, engine octane, or the race outcomes. In fact, these minimal amounts are not capable of influencing the performance of racing engines in any meaningful way.
The AMA’s Lack of Consultation
Another point of contention raised by VP Racing Fuels is the AMA’s lack of consultation with the fuel supplier when establishing rules. Given that VP is the supplier for many top teams in the sport, Burns expressed surprise that the
Addressing Lead and Oxygen Content in Racing Fuels
A significant area of concern raised in the statement is the low tolerance for lead in racing fuels, a specification that, according to Burns, is outdated and poorly suited for the realities of racing environments. In typical racing scenarios, fuel is handled far more frequently and in a more variable manner than pump fuel, which can easily lead to contamination by environmental factors, such as dust and dirt at race tracks. Since lead is present naturally in dirt, it is possible for trace levels to make their way into the fuel during its handling by teams and personnel, with no impact on fuel performance or engine function.
Additionally, Burns highlighted the oxygen content restrictions in AMA’s fuel rules. The current limit of 2.8% oxygen content in AMA Pro Racing fuel makes many pump fuels, which can contain up to 3.7% oxygen in some regions of the U.S., technically illegal for competition use. These restrictions, originally intended to ensure compatibility with U.S. pump fuels, are now outdated and no longer align with current fuel compositions.
A Call for Reform: Revising AMA’s Fuel Rules
VP Racing Fuels is calling for the AMA to address these issues and revise its fuel rules to better reflect the realities of modern racing. Burns pointed out that these concerns were raised in previous incidents, such as the disqualification of a Yamaha team in 2004, but were ignored by the AMA.
With the recent penalty of Ricky Carmichael, the issue of misapplied fuel regulations has come to the forefront once again. Burns argues that the current rules unfairly penalize teams and fuel suppliers, damaging reputations and wasting valuable resources. He suggests a straightforward solution: rewrite the rules to maintain their original intent while ensuring they are more aligned with practical racing conditions.
**The Impact on the Sport**
Burns concluded by stressing the damaging effects this situation has had on the health of AMA racing. The repeated disqualifications over what are perceived as technicalities or regulatory oversights have resulted in wasted time, money, and energy for teams, manufacturers, and fans alike. Furthermore, it has created a negative perception around the sport, where major companies like Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and VP Racing Fuels are unfairly seen as cheaters or incompetent.
It’s clear that the current fuel regulations, as written, are causing more harm than good. The time has come for the AMA to revise its fuel rules, to make them more practical and in line with the realities of modern racing. By doing so, they can restore fairness to the sport, improve the experience for teams and manufacturers, and ultimately ensure that racing remains the thrilling, competitive sport that fans have come to love.
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