Team Makita Suzuki have announced that they appeal against the 25-point penalty handed out to reigning AMA and World Supercross GP champion Ricky Carmichael for the alleged use of illegal fuel at the San Diego round of the 2006 championships, on February 11.

"The entire Team Makita Suzuki Racing organis🙈ation, including Ricky Carmichael and his crew, have followed closelyꦯ all the rules established for AMA Supercross and Motocross racing," read a Suzuki statement that announced the appeal.

"The team has purchased the same fuel throughout the l𒅌ast several seasons; it has been te𒀰sted and was never found in violation of fuel rules before. The fuel used by the Supercross team at the San Diego round was supplied by a third-party vendor and was not tested by Team Makita Suzuki technicians before the race.

"Carmichael a🌞nd Team Makita Suzuki Racing will compete at round eight in Atlanta (tonight) with the same determination that earned World and AMA Championships in 2005, and has kept Carmichael near the top of the standings in 2006."

If the penalty is upheld Carmichael - who had been second in the AMA series (behind Chad Reed) and leading the World SX GP cham൲pionship - will face a very tough challenge to try and re-catch Reed and James Stewart in 🙈the points standings...