Hacking’s Suspension Lifted

Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki's Jamie Hacking will be allowed to race at Road Atlanta next weekend after his suspension was lifted, a fine was paid, and an apology made at a meeting with AMA Pro Racing officials in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Hacking was suspended indefinitely and fined $4000 for "conduct detrimental to the sport of professional motorcycle racing" for his behavior at and following Sunday's post-race Daytona SportBike press conference at Auto Club Speedway. Runner-up Hacking and third place finisher Jason DiSalvo engaged in minor spat during the press conference. But it was Hacking's profanity as he was leaving the press room that the AMA most objected to. In a press release issued Sunday evening, just after they suspended him, the AMA said "Hacking displayed additional acts of inappropriate behavior in both public and media interviews."

However, what he did in the public interview was no different than what DiSalvo did. DiSalvo took offense to Hacking talking to race winner Danny Eslick while DiSalvo himself was being interviewed. But the videotape clearly shows DiSalvo talking to Eslick during Hacking's earlier interview.

Hacking, his wife, Rachel, and Attack Racing team owner Richard Stanboli met with AMA Pro Racing officials this morning. Following the meeting, AMA Pro Racing issued a press release that the suspension had been lifted and that Hacking had been placed on probation for the remainder of the season after paying the $4000 fine and issuing a letter of apology. But he's been put on a short leash. The AMA release states that "any violations of his probation in that event or any other on the 2009 schedule will result in the immediate enforcement of the one-event penalty, in addition to any other fines, penalties or suspensions related to the infraction."