On August 30, 1999, Jeff Emig issued the following statement:
“An Open Apology From Jeff Emig
I want to apologize to Kawasaki, to my other sponsors who have supported my racing efforts, to my family, my sport, my friends, and most importantly, to my fans. I made a huge mistake for which I take full responsibility. The consequences of my actions have cost me more than I could ever explain here. My career and my life are one and the same; I have put them both in jeopardy.
This was not part of being a professional athlete. I am expected to perform well on the race track and set a good example everywhere else. In this case, I failed myself, my team, my fans and my sport. I knowingly put myself in a situation that put to risk everything I have worked my entire life to create. I now must pay the price of my actions, which the racing community will exact.
The most public of the problems I have created for myself is the termination of my contract with Kawasaki. When I received the official news that I was fired, it was the worst feeling that I have ever had. The hardest thing I have ever done came next, the phone call to tell my dad what I did. Boy, have I learned a lesson!
Beginning right now, I will redeem myself and rebuild my life. I have allowed too many distractions into my life. I have begun taking the steps to restructure my life and to focus my mind, my time and my energy on being a professional motorcycle racer of whom my fans can be proud.
I want to thank Kawasaki for giving me the opportunity, the equipment and the support to be a champion. I would like to thank all the individuals within that organization for the years of excellent effort and dedication during which we accomplished so much.
The initial response I have received from my friends and just about everyone in the industry has been very supportive. I am extremely grateful for them. Now it is time for me to make a positive out of this situation. I will start by forgiving myself, put my life in order and my career back on the right track. I hope to earn the forgiveness of all the people I let down by making the best part of my life be the part that is yet to come. See you at the races!”
