Upgrade to enjoy this feature!
Vital MX fantasy is free to play, but Premium users receive great benefits. Premium benefits include:
- View and download rider stats
- Pick trends
- Create a private league
- And more!
Only $10 for all 2026 SX, MX, and SMX series.
Also Heard lusk made quite a bit more in those days.
I have a friend that went over to Glen Helen a few years ago to race. He crashed and sustained a serious/life threatening head injury that required urgent surgery. His bill would have bankrupted most riders under top ten. Luckily he's wealthy, and could pay outright.
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
More than 18, and less than 29
Ask Valentino Rossi how hiding money went for him.
And if you ask any US rider what the most difficult part of a 29 race schedule they will say the travel.
Pit Row
Riders like Strijbos, Guarneri (last year), Simpson,... are around 2500-3500 euro that is nice money if you aren't making the big bucks any more. The most of us need to work two months for that.
Bye the way people who say that AMA Riders are racing more. Wake up and smell the coffee. If Herlings didn't got injured he would've raced: 18 Grand Prix's + 6 Dutch Nationals + 5 Belgium Nationals + 1 MXON + 1 SMX. That is about 31 races if mine brain isn't screwing with me.
The discussion is about the main contract terms, really, and I'd bet that his contract doesn't require him to attend all of those events and hence he's probably not really compensated for them similarly.
I think , right there, you've got one of the best examples of a Racer you could find.
He's been around for a long time.
He's ridden for Factory Teams.
He's 'privateer-ed' it a fair few times.
He's, I think, still making a reasonable living from racing.
For those that might have watched a few GPs, and noticed an unbranded KTM - well, that's Tanel. From what I can gather, he did not go to the Argentine, Mexican, and the 2 US rounds this year. One assumes, down to cost. Luongos "travel assistance", would barely cover a riders ticket - well, probably not even excess baggage. The unbranded KTM - that's fascinated me - he might just be to the point that if he gets no help, well, you'll get no exposure from me - fair enough. Mind you, it's attracted a Lot of attention - the unbranded KTM.
I noticed his name in the results from the last round of the British Championships. I've not kept up with it this year - like I didn't follow too hard US SX or Outdoors, it's just one of those years for me - with things compared to normal, so don't know of his Team affiliations in Britain. The Brit series has always been good for a few Euros ( and, indeed, Zac O, and before him , Mike Brown) in terms of rides. I think Leok may have a few deals, in a few series.
He seems to be quite the journeyman / jobbing Privateer. Making, what I hope is, a quite reasonable living, from racing - and doing so for a long, long time. I hope he puts in his usual good rides at the coming MXDN.
The Leok family is quite the MX / Dirt Bike Rider dynasty, over a few generations.
The 'Euros' have long since been masters of Sponsor acquisition, for decades now. So many Teams and Riders have gained sponsorship / funds from diverse, 'outside of industry' backers. And, still do. That's why you'd see (and still see) so many sponsorship logos on Bikes / Jerseys / other gear. I always found MXAs putting shit on the Euros for their under jersey body armour 'look', and the 'weird' names they'd see on Jerseys etc as just a perfect indication of how idiotic, insular and uninformed they could be. The Teams / Riders would have many sponsors, and getting money from them all. What was one of Eric Geboers main sponsors, for quite a while - an Ice Cream company - Oesburke (sp). ?
Most MX 'markets', could still learn a thing or two about gaining diverse, outside sponsorship, from the Euro riders and Teams.
Unfortunately, World wide, Energy drink sponsorship seems to be taking over. I often wonder if it is because the sport, as a whole, is selling itself for too little, to these massive companies?
As an aside - I noticed Steve Ramons' name in the results of the recent last round of the Belgian Nationals. Good to see - shows you can still race at a very high level, for many years, without being subject to Luongos dictatorship.
also, let's not start comparing a dutch national with A1. in numbers they are both 1 race but certainly nowhere close in the effort, stress and money needed to compete.
Post a reply to: Euro rider pay