Bernard Kerr’s disqualification at Leogang has been all over the web this week.
Bernard was on track for a top 15 result at the Leogang World Cup but found out soon after the race finished that he was to be disqualified and his result wouldn’t count. We had a quick chat to Berny to see how it went down from his perspective.
WO: Let’s start with qualie. How was it and how did it all go?
BK: Yeah qualie was good. I felt great on track and had my bike dialied in so good! I had a few good lines that I knew most people weren’t doing so knew I was going okay and could make up time there. I put down just a real safe smooth run which slotted me into 19th. I was pretty happy with that for sure and couldnt wait for finals!
WO: OK and then tell me about the section of track where you got disqualified. How were you riding it? What were you trying to do down that bit?
BK: I felt great in the race and coming into the very last section of the track on the second to last real turn there was a fade away drop. Every run I felt I braked a bit too much through here and whenever I was following someone I felt that they would get away. In my run I just had the quickest thought to brake a tiny bit less and carry more speed to get to that finish line quicker. Unfortunately as I left the top I drifted wide in the air and landed wide onto the tap and poles. I was out for barely a moment and lost some speed. As the rule goes I should be DQ’d. The rule is just so black and white. If you’re out by an inch and it cost you 10 minutes you must still return at the same place or be DQ’d.
WO: And how did you find out that you had been DQ’d? and how did you feel when they told you?
BK: I thought I might be out after I spoke to David Vasquez and he said the chief was saying that he might put me out. Then when I was watching Gee come down and go in between Sam Hill that was the rider in front of me and Remi Thirion that was behind me on the screen brought some realisation that I had been taken out of the results. I went over as soon as the race finished to talk to the UCI to hear that I was for sure out!
I was absolutely gutted. I felt great and rode the best run I have this year. It was definitely my fault and my mistake, it’s just a shame that the rule is what it is.
WO: Do you think that they were right to DQ you then? Don’t the rules say that you can break the tape and continue … but only if you don’t gain a time advantage?
BK: No, the new rules say that are even if you lose 10 minutes and go out an inch you must return in the same place. But apparently in the second part of the rule it contradicts itself and says “but it depends what the commisaire decides” or something like that. So really you can’t go out at all. I think I was fair to be DQ’d by the rule but I don’t think the rule is fair!
The only reason it really sucks it that it can never be fair as for one the tape wasn’t moved back to where it was for me and another thing is if I hadn’t qualified in the top 30 I probably wouldn’t have been on the live feed and had slo-mo etc and the UCI would never have seen it and therefore never knew it happened and DQ’d me. If it happened to anyone else on the rest of the 70% of the track that wasn’t filmed no one would have known and it would have gone unnoticed.
Also how do they say “yes that’s okay you went back where you came out” on a big screen or from a far distance? If I stopped, ran back up and went through it how would they of seen the exact place I crossed on the way out was where I came back in? It could be feet of difference easily and that was all I went out by.
Screen grabs thanks to Brett Wheeler @ Wheeler’s MTB Holidays.
WO: So looking at Brett’s screen grabs you can see that the tape is clearly in a different position for Connor’s run (top screen grab) to your run. What happened there?
BK: Yeah, that is Connor – he came down after me. I hit the tape and it moved and went wider I’m pretty sure. They just never put it back like they should have. If you watch Simmonds as well he lands way out there. I’m pretty sure if they moved the tape back in after me he would of been out too … but they didn’t.
WO: So how did you feel to see everyone online fighting your battle and getting behind you to give you some support?
BK: Yeah man its awesome. I cant believe how many people have actually noticed it and gone to the effort of either doing something or writing about it. I really appreciate the support and thought people are giving to me and the situation!
There you have it – straight from the source.
What’s your opinion? Do you think Bernard was rightly DQ’d or was it a “wrong judgement” as two of the UK’s top race series organisers have already said over on Facebook.
Let us know on the comments below or hit SHARE and spread the word.
Good luck for the rest of the season Bernard!
