Starting Crossing C Defenses With Doors Held

[ASD20]

According to 3.1.3 (p.31), a robot must start fully in the neutral zone in order to count as crossing a defense. With the C Defenses (Sally Port and Drawbridge), is it possible to start in the neutral zone while holding one of the defenses open and have it count as a cross? The part of the defense that you are grabbing is over the neutral zone, but is there anything that disallows this?

[alopex_rex]

Rule 3.1.3 says (emphasis added)

A DEFENSE is CROSSED by a ROBOT when that ROBOT starts free of contact with the DEFENSE and completely in the NEUTRAL ZONE.

So, no.

[ASD20]

Sorry. I really should have read that better. It's been a long day...

[thatnameistaken]

A DEFENSE is CROSSED by a ROBOT when that ROBOT
■ starts free of contact with the DEFENSE and completely in the NEUTRAL ZONE
■ traverses the DEFENSE such that its BUMPERS go fully between the adjacent SHIELDS/GUARDRAIL,
and
■ ends up fully contained by the opponent’s COURTYARD.

As far as I can tell, this is fine, so long as you drove up from the NEUTRAL ZONE side to open the door. Before the robot opens door, it's free of contact and completely in the NEUTRAL ZONE. There's nothing here that says backing out into the NEUTRAL ZONE cancels the attempt to CROSS. However, even if it did, remember that there's a ramp in front of the DEFENSE that counts as part of the OUTER WORKS; you'd have to go pretty far back to hit the NEUTRAL ZONE.

If you're asking if ANOTHER robot can hold the door open, the phrasing of the rule seems to indicate this is okay.

The initial part concerning the NEUTRAL ZONE, as far as I can tell, is only there to ensure you have to start from the side of the neutral zone. This means it would be illegal to go from the opponent's COURTYARD, open the door, go to the NEUTRAL ZONE while holding it open, and go back through, as there was never a point in the CROSS where you were both in the NEUTRAL ZONE and free of the DEFENSE.

Obligatory disclaimer: I am neither the manual nor the GDC. Ask the Q&A when it opens to be safe.

[AWoL]

3.1.1:

A DEFENSE is CROSSED by a ROBOT when that ROBOT

• starts free of contact with the DEFENSE and completely in the NEUTRAL ZONE

EDIT: Wow, I should really refresh before posting.