The press release for Steve Kamrad’s disqualification from the NORRA Mexican 1000 by Race Director Jimmy Lewis is pretty damn weird.  In the “better late than never category”, the disqualification (DQ) seems to be for the Ducati DesertX Rally rider’s second Day 1 infraction… Rather than his first where he almost killed a fellow rider.  The release (and DQ) follows Kamrad’s Day 2 “karma DQ” where his Ducati caught fire¹, and like everything around the Kamrad affair is rife with what-the-fuckery.

The press release never mentions Steve Kamrad, by name, instead referring to him only as #53.  Since we are doing nicknames, let’s dub Kamrad “Wrongway”.  Number 53 sounds like a supervillain’s henchman, and that’s too much credit.  Ducati also is never mentioned, which comes across as a suck-up move.²

The NORRA release potentially acknowledges Wrongway’s Day 1 collision with rider #55 Matthew Glade as unsportsmanlike conduct in:

Penalties were applied earlier based on evidence of unsportsmanlike conduct but were not enough to warrant DQ before the start of day #2.

The collision with Glade occurred when Wrongway was traveling counter the direction of the race flow.

One of Kamrad’s defenses of his actions had been his helmet cam video. In it we see Kamrad picking his way through the desert off course; establishing he knows how to backtrack safely. Then he merges onto a desert double-track known as “the course”. Now, traveling up-course, Wrongway approaches a blind corner, adds throttle… AND WHAM!  We are left with the image of an unconscious Glade (#55) splayed on the ground.  Wrongway asks Glade if he is ok.  Eventually… Glade responds… in the affirmative – cut to black.

Or, maybe that’s not bad sportsmanship the release refers to.

Maybe the unsportsmanlike conduct is the epically callous, testostrionic, thoughtlessness of sending the video unsolicited to Glade’s partner.  Everyone loves opening their inbox to watch a loved one getting RAG-DOLLED into unconsciousness by a Bro hitting them with a 520lbs Ducati. Cream with your coffee, and trauma?

That’s some high what-the-fuckery; next-level unsportsmanlike conduct construable as intimidating, harassing, or just abusive.

Cue the canned laugh track, “Awe, Wrongway! That’s not how you behave!”  Don’t worry, the entertainment isn’t over, Wrongway has been on the “socials” covering his ass for hitting Glade with a specious argument.

Kamrad’s defense video is clipped pretty early, cut when the stunned (more likely unconscious) replies… just enough context for the former social media manager and aspiring YouTuber to establish a narrative of “it’s a normal road, not a race course”.

Wrongway argues that he was in the right, taking the right-hand lane of a two-lane desert double-track, therefore Glade coming through caused the accident.

Think that through, the course is a one-way flow.  Kamrad is effectively saying that if a one-way street has two lanes you should be able to use one of those lanes to travel counter the flow of traffic.

The course is a one-way flow for a reason, it was a rule in place to protect Wrongway as much as any other rider.  Hypothetically replace Glad with a group of racers, traveling with the flow of the race… Kamrad’s argument falls apart in blood and carnage.  Or, replace Glade with a trophy truck, quad, or rail.

How would Wrongway Kamrad’s “interweb spin” play out in other locations? Nurburgring? It’s multilane.  Cycling up your local mountain bike downhill trails?  Your local fun run, jogging against the race direction? The fast lane at the pool?

Kamrad’s being right,  is being “that guy” – the one going the wrong way on the bike path.

Well done Wrongway, your future in politics awaits. You fit right in spraying social media, and slamming people you’ve injured with bullshit.

. . .

What’s amazing about the release, is that it acknowledges that Jimmy Lewis and NORRA, did not review the tracking data for Kamrad and Glade the day of the incident.

Previous to getting the information necessary to disqualify, and at the 5:30 am briefing of day #2 the course director notified rider #53 of the impending situation.

What the actual fuck! So you let a potentially dangerous rider go out for another day? Did Lewis add a brotherly pat on the shoulder, and a “Now be good Wrongway.”

Yesterday (Day 3, April 30th) Jimmy Lewis was on record saying he hadn’t reviewed the tracking for the incident.

A cursory review of the tracks to check who’s traveling in what direction is not hard.

For users with the right privileges, the Anubesport tracking software has a “movie player” that lets you replay the tracks and travel of selected riders providing, at least, a preliminary overview.  I’m assuming one of the Mexican 1000 staff or volunteers has the right access. Reviewing actual data may be covered by “difficulties in communication in remote locations” – after all we are in a world without robust roaming plans, Starlink… or the hotel wifi when the rally bivis every night.

This whole “Wrongway” Kamrad mess… its handling… weird, weird handling… This should have every rider, and every sponsor, wondering about the safety of the race.  How many other Wrongway Kamrads have been given a talking to, a pat on the shoulder, and sent back out onto the course?  What other corners are being cut? Is “Wrongway” just a symptom of cultural rot at the Mexican 1000?  Frankly, no one should be dying to find out.³

ACT II: Ducati Rider #53 Steve “Wrongway” Kamrad Disqualified from NORRA Mexican 1000

ACT III: The “Wrongway” Affair: Act III – Fictions and Questions

Copy of the NORRA Release:

#53 Motorcycle Disqualified From NORRA Mexican 1000
April 30, 2024

After careful review of the recorded data, course official reports and information gathered from witnesses and competitors, NORRA Motorcycle Race Director Jimmy Lewis has found it necessary to disqualify motorcycle competitor #53 from the race. The official reason for disqualification was going against course traffic against the orders of course workers. The incident occurred on Day 1 at the finish of Special Stage #1. Penalties were applied earlier based on evidence of unsportsmanlike conduct but were not enough to warrant DQ before the start of day #2. Previous to getting the information necessary to disqualify, and at the 5:30 am briefing of day #2 the course director notified rider #53 of the impending situation. Shortly afterwards #53 withdrew due to his motorcycle becoming inoperable so this notification of disqualification has been delayed for being a lower priority than the safety of riders on course during competition and the difficulties in communication in remote locations in Baja.

FOOTNOTES:

1. What’s your wild theory on the Ducati fire, I mean “technical issue”? I’ve got a wild one after reading the release, but want to see if anyone else comes to a similar theory. ↩︎
2. My theory is that NORRA and Jimmy Lewis are aiming gunning to host a Ducati DesertX-centric rally race.  Things only get this weirdly when there’s money, sex, or drugs on the line. ↩︎
3. Glade has decided not to, and has withdrawn from the race. ↩︎