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And why am i disappointing by this? Well because RacerX is a quality magazine and they have really good writers/experts. But the 2016 GP coverage is weak.
There are too many tales to tell of that race so I suggest everyone who hasn't seen it yet, give it a look now. Also very happy to say that it isn't Malin commentating but my all time favourite Jack!!
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Leok rode well in both races , Kutsar was going ok too, both guys were suffering from what is becoming a common sight in heavy going, which is a proper steaming KTM .. Vlanderen's was the same , and it quit in Moto 1
Mewse was outstanding in EMX250, but Anstie and Covington never got the pace to get in the top 10.
Anstie just doesnt make sense at all. He's not injured, it was just bad starts and not the pace to move up much.
My brother, who is not into MX joined me at Valkenswaard on sunday, and halfway during the day his comment was: What's up with the riders jerseys and bike colors, don't they want to show their sponsors or don't they have a sponsor? As he said: 80% of these guys all i see is ''fox'' or ''alpinestars'' and ''yamaha'' or ''ktm''.
I must say never thought about that, but i can't see riders in EMX (except for a few) or outside top 10-20 in GP have their bike and jersey sponsor pay the bill. Or am i missing something?
A lot of riders pay a lot of money to race the MX2 class. EMX250 is much cheaper. Look at the top 10 in Valkenswaard, Heibey, Wouts, Kouwenberg, Lundgrenn, Olsen have tried to race MX2 before, they all stepped back to EMX250.
Pit Row
9 rounds: 300 euro x 9 = 2700
international license: 400 euro?
2 tuned bikes: 10 000 x 2= 20 000 (or more, depends on tuning)
spare parts
travel: depends on where you live. depends on how you do it (riders travel by plane or travel with the mechanic by camper)
mechanic: if you are Lucky, you're dad or a good friend you don't have to pay
2 bikes: -25.000
spare parts & tyres: -10.000 (1000 euro per event, not sure if thats reasonable)
entries: - 3.000
Travel fuelcosts: - 4.000 ((based on 10.000 km for the 10 events @40 cents)
Bus/camper depreciation: - 3.000 (i can get a nice 2nd hand cross camper for 20-25k)
Mechanic - 5.000 (10 events, average of 5 days per event @ 100 euro)
Sale bikes end season: +10.000 (recoup some of the costs of the bikes)
---------
-40.000
Think that would be a decent ballpark figure?
You could save on the mechanic.
And for a guy riding the national championship that wants to go for an EMX championship the actual additional costs will be much less since they will allready have the bikes and camper.
There is the difference in entry fees (300 euro vs 1.000 i believe), so that's that. But other then that?
Remember, you get nothing in return. Most of the riders know they are not gonna make big money with MX. They are happy if they can live a few years like a pro.
When you are racing MX2 you got to be in one of the accredited teams. You can hope for a wildcard, but you are not sure you can race the Gp's you want to race.
Getting in a team means you (when you'r name is not Herlings) have to pay for the package. You pay and get the bikes, mechanic, hospitality ... in return.
When you're lucky, you bring along a sponsor to pay or the team finds a sponsor who wants you in the team.
You can't stop wealthy riders buying themselves a place in those teams if they wish.
What you can do is stop those riders buying themselves a place on the start line. It's called 'qualification'.
Drop GP entry costs and you'd get 80 entries minimum per class. (There were 120 EMX riders at Valkenswaard - @€300 entry rather than €1000 for the GP classes). Run proper qualification and you'd have the 40 fastest in the race. Simples!
If the pay riders are fast enough to qualify then good for them. If they're not then it frees up spaces for faster, less wealthy riders who deserve to be there on talent.
Shit, it's not rocket science.
I can see where costs increase massively if you cannot go the full privateer thing (small camper, drive to the races, dad as mechanic) but have to get a ride at one of the accredited teams. All these teams spend major money on big trucks and stuff.
I guess thats the insanity of the whole MX GP system. You have a race on a track that is prepared by volunteers and that you can probably rent next weekend for 1000 euro for the weekend. At least 10.000 people show up paying 70 euro per ticket. Forget title sponsors, food&drinks sales, local subsidies for ''region promotion'' etc. In ticket sales alone you'd have 700.000 euro worth of purses. But instead of the 70 best MX1 and MX2 riders getting 10k each in purses, they have to pay to race.
EMX250 privateer style (from Finland. Licence, eating and training track fees not included)
- bikes: 0 - 2000€ / bike. At this level you usually are getting the bikes for loan or for rent from importer or shop)
- parts: 7000€ (discounted price from importer or shop)
- gear: 0€, usually at this level you get those for free.
- fuel, tire, oils: 2500€
- mechanic: 2500€ / month (actually paying the taxes and other stuff)
- camping etc. 500/ month (sleeping in your van)
- sign up and transponder rent: 1015€ / race
- fuel for you van: 3200€ (around 20 000 km)
- ferry tickets (MXGP of GB and from Finland to Germany & back): 1500 €
- toll roads: ? (for example from Trentino to Talavera de la Reina 110€)
30 000 - 60 000€
The other option is to buy your spot on a team (team takes care of building a competitive bike).
Full support (few bikes, mechanic, transportation, place to live, training ect.)
60 000 - 100 000€
Just race support (you live and train home and just fly to the races)
25 000 - 50 000€ plus travel expenses for mechanic & rider around 1300 - 2000€ per race
35 000 - 70 000€
Last year expenses were around 65000 for a EMX250 rider.
Post a reply to: Valkenswaard Sunday Bench racing thread