The newly enforced pit board rule came into the spotlight at the Houston Supercross, where Brent Duffe, Haiden Deegan’s mechanic, was fined $500 for making contact with Ayden Shive using his pit board after Shive had been lapped by Deegan in the first main event. While the contact appeared relatively minor, officials applied the rule without hesitation, making it one of the first high-profile penalties under the updated enforcement
After the decision, Duffe pointed out that similar incidents have occurred in the past, including an instance where Eli Tomac was struck by a pit board during a main event without any comparable punishment. In this case, however, Duffe paid the price, with some in the paddock believing the scrutiny was heightened due to his association with Deegan. Star Racing Yamaha team owner Bobby Regan was visibly unhappy with the ruling and ultimately stepped in to pay the fine himself.
The roots of the rule trace back to last season, when Coty Schock’s mechanic made contact with Jo Shimoda using a pit board—an incident that resulted in Shimoda breaking a finger. That moment brought pit board safety into focus and quietly set the groundwork for stricter oversight, which has now materialized in the 2026 season.
Hear the whole interview from Duffe
