Hmm, what's the rule mean -- "forward of the rider"? Does it mean "In front of the front-most part of the rider"? If that's the case, then the rule might have different interpretations depending on whether the rider's hands, on the grips, are the front-most part of him, or if the front-most part of the rider's helmet is the first part of the rider that passes through a vertical plane.
If this is THE correct interpretation -- then the sky is the limit for the rest of the bike -- fairing in front of the rider's legs, chin fairing under the motor (as long as it's behind the front of the rider), etc, etc.
Then there's the interpretation that would have us look at the rider, on the bike, from the front view. Ah, HA! Now anything that obscures the view of the rider that can be considered to have "...the apparent purpose of directing, limiting, or controlling airflow around the motorcycle or rider." is forbidden, as would be the afore-mentioned chin tank (because it's in front of the rider's foot position, right, even if not specifically in front of his feet because of lateral placement). No allowance for the coolant overflow tank that's positioned in front of the rider's leg, no allowance for a fancy swoopy dashboard that might coincidentally direct airflow away from the rider, etc, etc.
Next year's rule book will cover all of these possible interpretations by specifically and definitively spelling out each rule in clear and unambiguous language. The rulebook will be available for the usual ten dollars, but a shipping fee of about $400 will be charged since the damn thing will have to be delivered by a small semi. The rulebook may be a few months late in being published since the writers will have to consider each and every rules' possible interpretations and make a determination as to what is really meant to be said.
