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Kawasaki pays $1200 for fourth.
Honda pays $2000 for fourth.
Yamaha pays $2000 for fourth.
KTM pays $600, but that's better than Suzuki's $0.
for paypal donations.
That's frustrating; but, he likes the bike he's racing.
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I'm also pretty sure weston cleaned up on all those money races in the NW and he made out probably better for the season than 99% of the privateers doing the whole circuit.
And I also think everyone that holds a pro license should NOT have to pay an entry fee. They've paid all their lives. They've achieved the professional level of the sport. The guy in 40th is still incredibly talented. He is still out there providing a show for we the fans, without 2nd-40th, RV isn't winning anything. Every qualifying pro has a "place" in the sport, now pay the "places".
Lets say it's $8000.00.......he would have to race 1/2 the nationals ( 6 races )....place 4th place at all of them , and still wouldn't quite make what he made here in a week.....doing local races.
And the shame of it all.......he would of blown just about all of that + more to travel and compete in 6 races when you add everything up.
It's 2013.....and that is really sad. What i don't get is this. Just a few years ago , the ticket prices were $25.00 right? I didn't pay this year because I had a rider's pass , but I believe it was $45.00. That's a whopping $20.00 per person more and NOT ONE DIME of it see's it's way to the privateers.
Bottom line , either your a factory rider , on a good satellite team.........or you go broke being a privateer.
This is the part everyone is overlooking. If the ticket price is increased it's not going to the privateers!
I do like your idea rup but it would eventually get ate up by promoters and never get to the intended people.
The promoters only care if they are making money, they couldn't give two shits about the privateer. They are a bunch of pimps, living off the backs of the riders, knowing when one leaves because of lack of money another will take his spot.
And the unfortunate fact is...privateers are basically a dime a dozen. They'll always be lappers lining up to race "the big show"... Right or wrong, that's how it is, so why pay them?
In business, do you pay the guy the sweeps the floor equal to the amount of the guy that sells to your biggest customer? If the floor sweeper gets pissed and leaves, you will have him replaced in a day.
Sure, I'd love to see all the riders make millions...but that isn't reality.
MX Sports is making money from the title sponsors I.E. Lucas Oil and Red Bull also all of the track banners, vendors etc. All of these sponsors need to pony up some extra $$ for a privateer pool Every rider that makes the motos are that do not carry a major sponsorship I.E. Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, KTM, Motoconcepts, BTO Geico, PC are eligible for the pool funds as they have to carry the Lucas logo on there bikes in order to pass tech yet are not using Lucas products. The banner companies Like Oakley will have a separate pool for privateers that pay them an amount if they are wearing Oakley goggles even though they are not sponsored by Oakley. The promoters of each race I.E. Unadilla, MMP will pitch in $2 per ticket sold to the privateer pool point fund. the point fund is paid out at the end of the season to privateers based on there points earned. Other things that can help out the privateers is the AMA or MX Sports setting up special rates for the riders to take advantage of at hotels, Jiffy Lubes Etc. that will help keep the cost of living on the road down.
The fact of the matter is a privateer needs to not only be able to make it to the race and live on the road With purse money today factored in for inflation it is at the levels of 1970's yet everything is more expensive today it is no wonder why there are little privateers doing the entire season.
In fact I did a Economics Thesis at ASU about 10 years ago and the subject was "Racing motocross as a privateer 1988 vs. 2005" That paper brought my grade up from a B to A for the semester. I will see if I can find it and post it as a PDF it is around 40 pages in length.
A new group could just concentrate one thing like gas cards for the 20-40 guys. They could get a sponsor like Shell or some gas company.
Pit Row
It would be fantastic if Rup's idea could work as planned, but as many have said, the lion's share of the extra $ would probably never make its way to the riders. Somebody with some power needs to make some changes.
Anyone who has spent some time in the amateur ranks knows MX Sports is a master of incremental charges. $10 for this, $25 for that, $30 for a pit bike, extra vehicle, etc.
It might work if it were a donation at the time of credit card purchase, and the money went to a separate account.
If it wasn't for the privateers.....the gate would only have about 10-12 riders sitting on it. They are professional athletes , involved in a show being put on by a promoter......of course they should be able to make a living at it.
"In business, do you pay the guy the sweeps the floor equal to the amount of the guy that sells to your biggest customer? If the floor sweeper gets pissed and leaves, you will have him replaced in a day."
I think you are totally missing the entire point here. Look at the amount of money the factory guys get paid to even a good Satellite team rider.......now compare that to a privateer. The difference is huge. And then when you get guys like Weston Ot Nicoletti that are beating a lot of those guys just about every time they race together.......it starts to be embarrassing for the sport.
Bottom line.....the difference between a top 3 - 5 rider....is basically about 50 X more money then the dudes scrapping in 6th- 15th. Forget about the guys in 20th and 40th.......they lose money every time they line up. It should be like that.
Weston Peick is proof of what a privateer can do, on store-bought stuff, indoors and outdoors. And he'll be rewarded somehow. Racing isn't a charity. Beat the guys in front of you and you'll get more money and better rides. Period.
And as I pointed out, if he was on another brand, he'd have made way more money. Hopefully Suzuki rewards his loyalty with a factory ride. But if they don't, he should've been riding another brand, IMO.
Like I said...if the 20-30 privateers don't show up, 20-30 other lappers will be there to take their place. They are essentially a dime a dozen... I agree that it sucks, but those are the facts. The promoters don't have to pay those guys, because there are always more right behind them.
Bottom line.....the difference between a top 3 - 5 rider....is basically about 50 X more money then the dudes scrapping in 6th- 15th. Forget about the guys in 20th and 40th.......they lose money every time they line up. It should be like that.
The majority of the people in the crowd are there to see the top 5 riders (maybe top 10). Most don't care about the lappers/privateers. Again, that sucks, but that's life. If the fans were there to see the back markers, wouldn't the promoters have those guys on the billboards? Those guys are interchangeable with many many many others out there.
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