A look at 2011 Supercross purse money

A fourth place finish in a Lites Supercross Main would earn you a fat $800

Actually it's just enough to make sure the focus remains on the evil Luongo and his GP serie that don't pay any purse money!

$100,000 in total purse $$ at each round.

I say this every year........Its a shame riders are forced to race the Lites class and go broke doing it.....in order to get the required advancement points to race the more lucrative 450 class.

I don't recall anyone asking Trey about the purse. But I can guarantee the "top 5" aren't that concerned about it.

How much does it cost to put on each race?

Its a shame.
I'd like to honestly see both class payouts on the same level.
There both professional classes and top of the line.

I'm sure the: top 20: are...
Is there a middle man$ Just wondering who it is..

This is something I don't understand about our sport. Let's say the average ticket price is about $50 and they sell roughly 40,000 tickets. That's about $2 million. How much does it cost to the rent the stadium, the insurance, pay security, flaggers, dirt wurx, the actual dirt used, vendors etc, etc...? I know that there is a lot that goes into a supercross race that I can't even imagine, but somebody's pockets are getting fat off of this and it isn't the rider. That doesn't even count the revenue brought in by sponsors and advertisers, speed for the TV agreement, plus the money payed by the athletes and teams to participate. Does the AMA get a cut of anything for being the sanctioning body? I wish there were some numbers to be put out so it could be better understood because compared to other sports, even on much larger scales, the racers are grossly under paid.

Point well taken. But I don't really believe the top 5 have any power over it.

Uh, I've got a question...

Is this "Racing" or is it Charity?

if they didnt run this monster cup, that could be an extra mill into the purse. thats what like 60,000 more at each round? the money they have to spend on "4 times as much dirt for MEC" and building that structure to go up into the stands cant be cheap either.

it's spread over 80 riders everyone who makes the night show gets paid something. I think $230 for Lites and $580 for 450's

At the end of the day the riders can choose, nobody makes them line up.

Its charity.

I still don't get how a "one off" first year race (Monster Energy Cup) promoted by the same people who promote SX can put together such a HUGE purse for said race?

Then put together such a piss poor purse for a successful, premier series such as SX.

The reason is because if they didn't put up a huge purse for the Monster Energy Cup the top guys would not show up!!!!!!!!!
But because the top guys are "CONTRACTED" to show up at all the SX rounds they don't have to worry about a huge purse. Like Mom241 said the "top 5 aren't concerned with the purse".

So Feld has the money for a better purse but doesn't have to put up a good purse because they don't care about anyone below the top 5. Its pathetic and a crying shame, sure Feld needs to make money and they are.........a lot of it.......while a lot of the participants in a SX race go broke!!!!!

Top 5 do have power over it but I understand it would take them making a HARD stand to make any changes.

How do they have power?
Don't show up till purse structure is changed. Yes it would break their contract and cause them some discomfort but it would make a change.

I am not calling for this and believe me I understand that the top 5 have worked harder than anyone to get where they are. They deserve every bit of what they get paid and how they get treated......but those that aren't in the top 5,10 or 20 deserve to be treated better. I know we all agree on this and it maybe something that never changes.

But lets not pull the wool over our eyes and say that Feld can't put up a better purse, either through sponsors or event revenue.

I agree that it needs to be more but if you look at it this way its not too bad.

20th place in 450 SX is $2,135 X 17 rounds = $36,295 + bike contingency + small Team salary

Plus if he did the outdoors season, making $100k a year shouldn't be a problem especially with 3 months off to do local races.

(only works if your on a team that pays for traveling and entry expensives)

Correct me if I am missing the picture.........