Larry Brooks Demand Stricter Penalties for Lappers in Supercross

 Larry Brooks Demand Stricter Penalties for Lappers in Supercross

The issue of lapped riders interfering with race leaders has once again sparked debate in the Supercross world, with two prominent voices—Cooper Webb and Larry Brooks—calling for stricter penalties to be enforced. Webb, frustrated by lappers affecting the outcome of races, believes the AMA should take action, while Brooks argues that the current system does little to hold slower riders accountable.

Webb: “There Should Be Penalties Enforced”

Cooper Webb, a two-time Supercross champion, has always been vocal about race fairness and competition integrity. Following a recent race where lapped riders altered the flow of the front-running battle, Webb expressed his frustration:

“I personally feel like there should be penalties enforced,” Webb said. “There are guys out there who just don’t respect the leaders. When you’re in a close battle for a win and have to dodge lappers who aren’t moving over, it completely changes the race.”

Webb’s frustrations are not new. Lappers often disrupt leaders’ momentum, sometimes costing valuable seconds and, in extreme cases, affecting the final results. The blue flag, which signals lapped riders to yield, is currently the AMA’s only tool for addressing the issue, but Webb—and many other top riders—feel it isn’t enough.

Larry Brooks: “The AMA Does Nothing to Penalize Lappers”

Former professional rider and longtime team manager Larry Brooks backed Webb’s stance, criticizing the AMA’s lack of enforcement when it comes to lapped riders.

“The AMA does not do anything to penalize the riders that are being lapped; they only give them a blue flag and let them kind of dictate what happens,” Brooks stated. “There are times when a race can be completely altered because a lapper gets in the way and changes the rhythm of a leader. It’s frustrating to watch.”

Brooks’ criticism stems from years of watching top riders battle for championships, only to see their results impacted by lappers who fail to yield. Unlike in some other forms of motorsport, where slower competitors are forced to move aside or face penalties, Supercross relies solely on the blue flag system—which often leads to inconsistent adherence.

Possible Solutions

Webb and Brooks’ calls for stricter penalties could force the AMA to consider changes to its current system. Some potential solutions include:

• Time penalties for riders who repeatedly fail to move over.
• Black flagging riders who ignore the blue flag for multiple laps.
• Fines or race disqualifications for obstructing a leader in a way that impacts race results.
• Points deductions for serial offenders who affect championship battles.

Will the AMA Listen?

For now, the AMA has not publicly responded to these criticisms, but with more riders speaking out, the pressure is mounting. Lappers have been a longstanding issue in Supercross, and with title contenders like Webb leading the charge for change, the governing body may be forced to reconsider its stance.

Would a stricter system make racing fairer, or is this just part of the sport? Either way, the debate is far from over.

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