Zhang Xue Responds to Penalty for Violation at WSBK Netherlands: No Issues with Rider or Bike

After the race, Zhang Xue, founder of Zhang Xue Racing Team, responded, "We were leading in the first half, and reached third place on the last corner, but there was a track limit violation, resulting in a one-position penalty, for a final result of fourth. That's just how competitive sports are."

He also stated that he had inquired with the race director after the race and confirmed that neither the rider nor the bike had any issues. "That's how racing is, especially for everyone in the leading group, everyone is pushing to 100% at the limit. Even a small mistake can cause you to be overtaken."

According to media reports, the WSBK race rules clearly stipulate penalties for track limit violations on the final lap: if a rider leaves the track on the final lap and gains an advantage, they will be directly penalized one finishing position, to prevent gaining an unfair advantage through methods such as cutting corners.

This penalty only applies to profitable violations on the final lap, while similar behavior in other laps of the race is usually handled by canceling lap times or adding penalty time.

Debise was penalized this time for crossing the track limit and gaining an advantage on the final lap, and according to the rules, was dropped from third to fourth place.