Our Sport needs a Riders Union!

TeamGreen wrote:

I know PLENTY of riders that have PAID for their OWN health insurance.

This ain't about unions: It's about RESPONSIBILITY.

Period.

MotoChief Dos wrote:

You know what, I change my mind. The few well thought out responses in here have swayed my opinion. If you don't have insurance, stay the...

You know what, I change my mind.

The few well thought out responses in here have swayed my opinion.

If you don't have insurance, stay the fuck off the bike! I would never ride without insurance so why the hell do professionals? And why are they allowed to?

steveada wrote:

Time for a reality check. Mx/Sx is a small sport. Most of the guys on the amateur circuit, home schooling and dreaming of being the next...

Time for a reality check. Mx/Sx is a small sport. Most of the guys on the amateur circuit, home schooling and dreaming of being the next big thing spend 1000's x more trying to get there than they will ever make racing. It's not a secret. This is a recreational type sport, not a vocational type sport. Anyone who thinks they are going to turn pro, then race until they are 23 or 24 and be set for life is delusional. A union would never fly. You have 10 or 20 guys making some money who are the real draw, and have no use for a union. Then you have everyone else that could potentially benefit from a union, but have no leverage at all. It's tough being a privateer, but if all the privateers banded together and said "we won't show up if you don't pay us better", another 100 privateer hopefuls would be there to fill their place. It would be nice though if the AMA used the power of their entire membership to develop an AMA health insurance plan with decent rates for it's members.

EastFlorida wrote:

While I'm not a union fan, I do believe there needs to be some type of insurance program.

GuyB wrote:

The one thing I absolutely think the AMA should mandate is that every rider who lines up on the gate has insurance coverage. If they can...

The one thing I absolutely think the AMA should mandate is that every rider who lines up on the gate has insurance coverage.

If they can work out some kind of group rate, that'd be even better. But no insurance coverage? No race.

carlosmacho wrote:

Insurance is a way to distribute health costs across a large number of insured. If the insured has a preexisting condition or high risk, the insurance...

Insurance is a way to distribute health costs across a large number of insured. If the insured has a preexisting condition or high risk, the insurance company does not want those people because.
1. It increases the cost of the insurance.
2. That cost is passed on to the consumer in the form of higher premiums.
3. The consumer looks for cheaper insurance.
4. Those who do not insure preexisting conditions and high risk will be lower cost to the consumer.
5. Consumer switches to cheaper insurance.
6. Company now does not insure preexisting condition or high risk to compete.

In short insurance companies don't want to partner with high risk groups unless they can make a lot of money doing it meaning, the costs will be quite high. So you can say goodbye to "affordable" insurance. Even most large corporate companies have exclusions in the policy that excludes racing, equestrian, and other dangerous sports.

Gov steps in and makes laws about preexisting and high risk.

People who do not have preexisting or participate in high risk sports feel that why should they have to pay for people who break bones racing motocross, sportbike, horses, bicyclist, etc. I agree with them. So if you race motocross even at a non pro level, you are going to have to pay a LOT MORE for insurance

But liberals and communists/socialists believe in the redistribution of wealth. They want to force you to do what they want by taking your money to pay for others. Just like the original poster wants to do. (If in a democracy, a majority agree that all insurance companies should accept preexisting conditions and high risk groups knowing it will cost consumers more money, so be it.)

You have choices right now. Don't race, don't have insurance, self insure, buy health insurance.
Dictating to you that you must purchase insurance (from a gov level) forces you to pay whether you race or not, need it or not, do drugs motorsports activities, racing, dangerous activities that destroy your body and cause a burden to others or not,

If the riders want a union, that is fine, but if the cost of an SX ticket doubles because of a riders union, I won't be going. That is how capitalism works, You have choices, socialism takes all your choices away and give them to gov.

I am glad gov doesn't control the AMA/promoters/riders/sponsors and they can work it out for themselves.

RocketLab wrote:

What does a 11th -20th place guy average gross doing SX and MX all in with endorsements, etc? What do the other guys trying to make...

What does a 11th -20th place guy average gross doing SX and MX all in with endorsements, etc? What do the other guys trying to make the night show but most times don't average? Just curious if they actually make enough money to pay all the associated racing expenses and add whatever a medical insurance policy cost for a professional races into the mix.

I think something needs to be done to ensure that all the racers have access to insurance and a means to pay it. I see all the statements on here about how little they make so is that true> Can they afford to get insurance if it's mandated or do plenty of racers get forced out of the sport? Should the promoter be paying the cost of the insurance for those risking their health providing the entertainment?

Rupert X wrote:

After much deliberation , I have come to the conclusion - that ACTIVE pro racers, simply don't care enough about the welfare and future - of...

After much deliberation , I have come to the conclusion - that ACTIVE pro racers, simply don't care enough about the

welfare and future - of their colleagues - and themselves, to take the initiative to form a " RIDERS SAFETY COMMITTEE"

to ensure that they receive a say in the safety - and build quality, of the circuits - adequate compensation, insurance, prize

money and, perhaps a pension . If they truly gave a fat rat's ass about their futures, they would have organized already. If they

want to keep their heads in the sand, risk life and limb without proper representation and compensation, they should continue

the paths they're on now and keep their collective mouths shut. It's going to take ONE MAN to stand up and make

something happen, until then, many racers - ESPECIALLY the PRIVATEERS - shall get the shaft.