Hello everyone! Why do riders retire so early?

HoosierMad
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HoosierMad
Edited Date/Time 4/9/2019 11:21am
I'm new here. My 1st post.

I was wondering why riders retire so early in SX? Like 30 is the kill pretty much it seems. I know guys start out young, but is it just wear and tear and injuries?

I was reading a thread and people are acting like Roczen and some of the guys in the 23-25 age range are almost out of time to win a SX title... just because it's really tough to win it after 26 years old?

Can someone enlighten me? I'd appreciate it. It's nice to have a place to talk dirtbikes and SX with people. TOok me forever to find this place.
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Tarz483
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Tarz483 4/8/2019 12:51pm
4/8/2019 12:51pm
Hi welcome to the party!
Are you new to dirtbike's also?
Also have you ever heard of Pulpmx?
Just curious if someone that hadn't heard of vital would have heard of pulp.
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HoosierMad
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HoosierMad 4/8/2019 12:57pm
4/8/2019 12:57pm Edited Date/Time 4/8/2019 12:59pm
I'm very brand new. I loosely followed back in the McGrath days.. casually and the Carmichael time a bit. Was never "into" it...

I've not checked anything out for like 11 years or so. LIterally just got back into it via the new video game and Nashville hosting a race finally.

And no, I've never heard of any of that. Pulp. Nothing. I heard about this place through a youtube video. From Resolute Kracken.

I rode some dirtbike growing up. He had a Honda 200XR or something. I cant' remember. We ramped it and I got fairly good on it.
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Tarz483
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Tarz483 4/8/2019 12:59pm
4/8/2019 12:59pm
Oh Cool, i hope you enjoy this place i do Smile
Did you go to the race ?
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Tarz483
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Tarz483 4/8/2019 1:01pm
4/8/2019 1:01pm
Also there is Quite a few guys in here that have had periods away from the sport and Came back, i have Had as much as 10 years in between riding, but i was a fan all the way through even in times that i wasnt riding.
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HoosierMad
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HoosierMad 4/8/2019 1:02pm
4/8/2019 1:02pm
Tarz483 wrote:
Oh Cool, i hope you enjoy this place i do Smile
Did you go to the race ?
Yes. It's in my signature lol.

It was great. I enjoyed it. It was a true pleasure to meet Jeremy McGrath. I mean it was awesome. Tomac seemed irritated for sure.
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731chopper
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731chopper 4/8/2019 1:04pm
4/8/2019 1:04pm
The sport is incredibly physically demanding requiring supreme fitness which is a difficult lifestyle to maintain and the average professional accumulates quite a few catastrophic injuries throughout his career. Both of these facts lead to racers retiring at a younger age relative to other professional sports.
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Tarz483
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Tarz483 4/8/2019 1:06pm
4/8/2019 1:06pm
As for why they Retire , it's different for everyone , like Reed is still Racing for example at 37, but in my opinion the Injuries would be the main reason.
Dirty Points 4/8/2019 1:07pm
4/8/2019 1:07pm
Chronic pain resultant from carrying around a massive pair
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mxrose3
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mxrose3 4/8/2019 1:12pm
4/8/2019 1:12pm
It is also a sport that requires large gonads and a no-fear attitude to compete at the top level.
Injuries over the years tell the brain not to hang it out as much, or only when you feel comfortable doing so.
The term 'young and dumb' isn't far off here. James Stewart's latest interview kind of hints at that.
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dirtworldmx 4/8/2019 1:12pm
4/8/2019 1:12pm
I heard on Vital that it was all Aldon Baker's fault.
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resetjet
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resetjet 4/8/2019 1:22pm
4/8/2019 1:22pm
Its easier then that. Top riders make enough money to retire. Everyone else doesnt make enough to keep doing it when their results land them back as privateers. A few do it because they love it. Reed, dowd for example. But for sure as said above its a young mans game.
scrallex
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scrallex 4/8/2019 1:23pm
4/8/2019 1:23pm
You don't have to be at that level to understand the extent at which this sport damages these guy's bodies. (Not intended to be rude, just an observation).

It's incredibly difficult to not only perform at that level but to do so for an extended period of time. Few people reach the level of making a podium and even fewer are championship contenders at any point in their career. Add on the benefits of a factory team (ie, you'll only be able to reach that level with factory support) and the few positions available to race for a factory team and it becomes more clear why most retire before 30. I would have loved to see RV/RD put in a couple more years before retiring but I absolutely understand their perspective and I appreciate them spending as much time as they did in the gladiator's arena for our viewing pleasure.

BTW: Welcome to Vital!
kb228
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kb228 4/8/2019 1:23pm
4/8/2019 1:23pm
In.
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seth505
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seth505 4/8/2019 1:25pm
4/8/2019 1:25pm
Mostly because of stuff like this off and on

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milliebays
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milliebays 4/8/2019 1:32pm
4/8/2019 1:32pm
ask Cairoli
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mattyhamz2 4/8/2019 1:36pm
4/8/2019 1:36pm
milliebays wrote:
ask Cairoli
I still fully believe they have longer careers because they ride outdoors only. Ya, outdoors are faster for sure and I don't think that will ever be argued, but mistakes in supercross are much more costly more often than outdoors.
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jeffro503
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jeffro503 4/8/2019 2:09pm
4/8/2019 2:09pm
Injuries add up , guy's start to lose their edge after a while. Basically boils down to either their body can't handle it any more , or their mind won't let them be as competitive as some young dude made of rubber. It's not just the top notch guy's that get affected by this. Many , many Vet riders on here , and even some younger ones , have either stepped it down a few notches or quit all together. It all boils down to " risk vs reward ". And if you do it long enough , you better be good at receiving pain. BUT......it's the best sport in the world in my eye's , and we should all keep doing it , until we can't.
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bvm111
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bvm111 4/8/2019 2:33pm
4/8/2019 2:33pm
kb228 wrote:
In.
Before
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aeffertz
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aeffertz 4/8/2019 2:41pm
4/8/2019 2:41pm
Would just like to point out again that this is also my first post and it took me forever to find this site.
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mattyhamz2 4/8/2019 2:55pm
4/8/2019 2:55pm
aeffertz wrote:
Would just like to point out again that this is also my first post and it took me forever to find this site.
Something tells me this isn't his first rodeo here Whistling
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HoosierMad
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HoosierMad 4/8/2019 2:56pm
4/8/2019 2:56pm
aeffertz wrote:
Would just like to point out again that this is also my first post and it took me forever to find this site.
Yeah I don't have over 2700 posts man. Sorry.

Just a new fan. It's that simple.
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HoosierMad
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HoosierMad 4/8/2019 2:57pm
4/8/2019 2:57pm
aeffertz wrote:
Would just like to point out again that this is also my first post and it took me forever to find this site.
mattyhamz2 wrote:
Something tells me this isn't his first rodeo here Whistling
I swear that it is. I don't know who you think I am.

The paranoia is off the charts lol. You can ask a admin or mod to verify that I am indeed a new member that has never been here before.
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AngryBear
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AngryBear 4/8/2019 2:59pm
4/8/2019 2:59pm
"I've not checked anything out for like 11 years or so. LIterally just got back into it via the new video game and Nashville hosting a race finally."

and that's why it's not a bad idea to move venues around. old fans can/will drive a bit.
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Drtbykr
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Drtbykr 4/8/2019 3:01pm
4/8/2019 3:01pm Edited Date/Time 4/8/2019 3:11pm
Hello.

I think their full grown brain asks them, “wtf are you doing!”.j/k
devindavisphoto 4/8/2019 3:03pm
4/8/2019 3:03pm
I think it's because dirt bike riders start competing at such a young age (usually 4-6 years old) in such a physically demanding sport. You can compete late into your 60s in a sport like golf, but you aren't jarring your body on a weekly basis playing most sports.
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HoosierMad
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HoosierMad 4/8/2019 3:03pm
4/8/2019 3:03pm
AngryBear wrote:
"I've not checked anything out for like 11 years or so. LIterally just got back into it via the new video game and Nashville hosting a...
"I've not checked anything out for like 11 years or so. LIterally just got back into it via the new video game and Nashville hosting a race finally."

and that's why it's not a bad idea to move venues around. old fans can/will drive a bit.
Yeah it's pretty exciting. Outside of a couple people here trying to bully me for being new and thinking I'm someone else... everyone has been nice and very helpful.

I'll definitely try to stay up on it all. I already kinda wanna go to another race, but none are close lol
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HoosierMad
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HoosierMad 4/8/2019 3:05pm
4/8/2019 3:05pm
devindavisphoto wrote:
I think it's because dirt bike riders start competing at such a young age (usually 4-6 years old) in such a physically demanding sport. You can...
I think it's because dirt bike riders start competing at such a young age (usually 4-6 years old) in such a physically demanding sport. You can compete late into your 60s in a sport like golf, but you aren't jarring your body on a weekly basis playing most sports.
Yeah that's a great point man. They do start very young. Usually.

I was just noticing them retiring pretty young when I was doing research and it made me kinda sad... I was like... so I only have maybe 4-6 years or Roczen left? 5 years or Tomac...? etc...
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downard254
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downard254 4/8/2019 3:05pm
4/8/2019 3:05pm
Free advice. Lurk for a year before posting. Could save you some aggravation. Well shit, nevermind, you already did. New advice, grow some thick skin then f you plan to hang around. Oh, and welcome to the forum. Cool
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