Why do elite riders want to ride supercross ?

scott_nz 2/15/2022 8:51am
2/15/2022 8:51am
Because the USA is the biggest dirt bike market in the world so it pays the biggest money

And sx is the biggest show in town

Herlings was one of the first guys to get a top end American sized salary to stay in Europe , altough some of the guys listed above have taken pay cuts to come to the USA
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vet40
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vet40 2/15/2022 9:05am
2/15/2022 9:05am
Falcon wrote:
You don't believe a SX championship is more prestigious because you live in the UK and MXGP seems like the top of all dirt motorsport. Over...
You don't believe a SX championship is more prestigious because you live in the UK and MXGP seems like the top of all dirt motorsport. Over here, the perspective is very different. In much the same way that Tomac, Anderson, or Barcia would have a hard time being title contenders in MXGP, Herlings, Gasjer, or Prado would have a hard time here in Supercross. Thus, the "world champs can't hang" attitude and the feeling that Supercross is the pinnacle.

Also, like others have said, money talks, and the best option for riders from the elite in America is Supercross.
Maybe, although I’ve been around the sport for 30 years & grow up watching us SX back in the McGrath era etc.

Just seems nowadays it’s lost it’s magic. All bike racing is dangerous, but now it just seems the bike tech & riders have outgrown what indoor tracks can offer.

They the rhythms get gnarlier, the whoops more treacherous, the passes more aggressive. Seems like it’s just less fun in general. The post race press conference the riders always seem so dejected.

It’s like it’s becoming more of a freak show then decent racing championship.
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UpTiTe 2/15/2022 9:17am
2/15/2022 9:17am
Racerman967 wrote:
Win a Supercross title 1 million. Win an outdoor title, 200k simple decision.
mxb2 wrote:
Nope. , Outdoor 450 title pays way more than 200k.
About 800k more.
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Gary Duck
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Gary Duck 2/15/2022 10:03am
2/15/2022 10:03am
bvm111 wrote:
they have the big mac, we have the big mic, they have the golden arches, we have the golden arcs! excuse me sir there is some...
they have the big mac, we have the big mic, they have the golden arches, we have the golden arcs!

excuse me sir there is some one here to see you

it’s not those guys from Mc Donald’s is it?
aww, man, you ain't never meet no Frank Sinatra!
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mxb2
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mxb2 2/15/2022 10:11am
2/15/2022 10:11am
Racerman967 wrote:
Win a Supercross title 1 million. Win an outdoor title, 200k simple decision.
mxb2 wrote:
Nope. , Outdoor 450 title pays way more than 200k.
UpTiTe wrote:
About 800k more.
Yep
stone881
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stone881 2/15/2022 10:33am
2/15/2022 10:33am
vet40 wrote:
I can’t get me head around why the most talented riders in the world choose to ride sx. Is the risk rewards really worth it...
I can’t get me head around why the most talented riders in the world choose to ride sx. Is the risk rewards really worth it ?

The tracks can catch anyone out at anytime, when you consider the low track time to injury it’s clear how crazy the danger risks are.

The if you get a poor start your taking so many more risks trying to make passes, must be so frustrating.

If you took the crowd away, all the lights, music & fireworks, just left if as a peaky slippery tight dangerous track that it is, would the riders still want to race it ?

Then on the other hand you have true modern motocross tracks built within some of the most stunning natural terrains, unlimited passing lines, creatively, longer motos, less risks. I can fully understand why the majority of MXGP elite choose to avoid supercross nowadays.

Because it's bad motherf'n ass! You gotta have cajones to ride SX, it isn't for the weak minded.

I am guessing you have never been on the floor of an AMA SX track?
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vet40
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vet40 2/15/2022 10:55am
2/15/2022 10:55am
stone881 wrote:
Because it's bad motherf'n ass! You gotta have cajones to ride SX, it isn't for the weak minded. I am guessing you have never been on...
Because it's bad motherf'n ass! You gotta have cajones to ride SX, it isn't for the weak minded.

I am guessing you have never been on the floor of an AMA SX track?
It’s true I haven’t walked an sx track in person, but I have races quite a few GP tracks including matterly a few times. I have experienced steep jumps, tbh that’s more to why I’m amazed these guys are so keen to do it on such narrow slippery little tracks.

Sx worked well for 2 strokes, but these 4 strokes need more space for the higher speeds. The tracks just don’t look fun anymore.
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kage173
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kage173 2/15/2022 11:09am
2/15/2022 11:09am
It is the most prestigious, most well paid, most live viewed and most televised dirtbike event in the world.
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vet40
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vet40 2/15/2022 12:26pm
2/15/2022 12:26pm Edited Date/Time 2/15/2022 12:27pm
kage173 wrote:
It is the most prestigious, most well paid, most live viewed and most televised dirtbike event in the world.
I just don’t think Say Cooper Webb for example I would considered the same level of talent as Herlings.

MXGP world championship is a greater achievement. It shouldn’t all be about money.


Sx is cash cow, strip away all the show elements & your left with a crappy little track with Sketchy obstacles. Strip away all the show from most GP tracks & your still have an epic circuit most riders would love to ride.
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SoCalMX70
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SoCalMX70 2/15/2022 12:30pm
2/15/2022 12:30pm
Why does anyone do anything?
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loftyair
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loftyair 2/15/2022 12:36pm
2/15/2022 12:36pm
You're the best mx'er right now? Ill pay you 'x' to ride 2 races, one 10 min., the next 22 min.
Or you can ride a super-bumped and lined track, 35x2, way, way harder than that smooth one, where you're in the air most the time. You better be in best shape in the world! Oh, Pay you less.
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mxb2 2/15/2022 12:37pm
2/15/2022 12:37pm
kage173 wrote:
It is the most prestigious, most well paid, most live viewed and most televised dirtbike event in the world.
vet40 wrote:
I just don’t think Say Cooper Webb for example I would considered the same level of talent as Herlings. MXGP world championship is a greater achievement...
I just don’t think Say Cooper Webb for example I would considered the same level of talent as Herlings.

MXGP world championship is a greater achievement. It shouldn’t all be about money.


Sx is cash cow, strip away all the show elements & your left with a crappy little track with Sketchy obstacles. Strip away all the show from most GP tracks & your still have an epic circuit most riders would love to ride.
So by your theory herlings should ride for pride, prestige, so why would he want millions instead of 100k a year. Money $$ rules the world. Face it.
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GrapeApe
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GrapeApe 2/15/2022 12:40pm
2/15/2022 12:40pm
bvm111 wrote:
they have the big mac, we have the big mic, they have the golden arches, we have the golden arcs! excuse me sir there is some...
they have the big mac, we have the big mic, they have the golden arches, we have the golden arcs!

excuse me sir there is some one here to see you

it’s not those guys from Mc Donald’s is it?
Gary Duck wrote:
aww, man, you ain't never meet no Frank Sinatra!
Hey, it's Kunta Kinte!

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vet40
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vet40 2/15/2022 12:48pm
2/15/2022 12:48pm
loftyair wrote:
You're the best mx'er right now? Ill pay you 'x' to ride 2 races, one 10 min., the next 22 min. Or you can ride a...
You're the best mx'er right now? Ill pay you 'x' to ride 2 races, one 10 min., the next 22 min.
Or you can ride a super-bumped and lined track, 35x2, way, way harder than that smooth one, where you're in the air most the time. You better be in best shape in the world! Oh, Pay you less.
Spin in anyway you like, doesn’t change the fact that the SX tracks are garbage to race on, whoops get unridable for most & sx ends way to many riders championships too early.

I just think the show element has over taken the quality of the tracks. Where as in MXGP the tracks & racing are the show in it’s self.
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Moto Nomad 2/15/2022 12:52pm
2/15/2022 12:52pm
One thing I can say after going to a few Supercrosses (we didn't have them in the Northeast where I used to live, closest was Atlanta) is that TV does no justice to the skills these guys have. The intensity is amazing. The jumps look huge when you're there in the stadium. These guys are just incredible. It's one of the most specialized sports in the world, so it must be an immense challenge to go out there and go that fast weekend after weekend.
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GateDropGoGo 2/15/2022 12:53pm
2/15/2022 12:53pm
Maybe people who choose to race motorcycles for a living don't count beans in the Risk v. Rewards Game the same way that most of us do......

That, and....

Flames, lazers, fireworks, spotlights and 50,000-70,000 fans all looking at you.... opening ceremonies at a SX are about as close to being a rockstar as a dirt bike racer could ever hope to be....

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plowboy 2/15/2022 1:09pm
2/15/2022 1:09pm
Money. From the start...SX was a way for the racers to make money in the winter months. It didn't take long for promoters to see the upside. Time passes and we now have riders that must have indoor/outdoor skills or no factory rides (The successful vets that are granted SX only contracts are the exception). SX only contracts indicate that either the reward is greater or the effort is less...or both.

I'd like to have someone ask Tomac, Roczen, Ferrandis, Webb, Lawrence, or any of the top dogs...if the pay was EXACTLY the same but you could only ride SX or MX...which would you choose. Heck, ask Ricky and Mcgrath that same question.
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mxb2 2/15/2022 1:24pm
2/15/2022 1:24pm Edited Date/Time 2/15/2022 1:33pm
loftyair wrote:
You're the best mx'er right now? Ill pay you 'x' to ride 2 races, one 10 min., the next 22 min. Or you can ride a...
You're the best mx'er right now? Ill pay you 'x' to ride 2 races, one 10 min., the next 22 min.
Or you can ride a super-bumped and lined track, 35x2, way, way harder than that smooth one, where you're in the air most the time. You better be in best shape in the world! Oh, Pay you less.
vet40 wrote:
Spin in anyway you like, doesn’t change the fact that the SX tracks are garbage to race on, whoops get unridable for most & sx ends...
Spin in anyway you like, doesn’t change the fact that the SX tracks are garbage to race on, whoops get unridable for most & sx ends way to many riders championships too early.

I just think the show element has over taken the quality of the tracks. Where as in MXGP the tracks & racing are the show in it’s self.
Easy fix, dont watch it. I doubt sx is gonna miss you not watching it.
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vet40
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vet40 2/15/2022 2:02pm
2/15/2022 2:02pm
GateDropGoGo wrote:
Maybe people who choose to race motorcycles for a living don't count beans in the Risk v. Rewards Game the same way that most of us...
Maybe people who choose to race motorcycles for a living don't count beans in the Risk v. Rewards Game the same way that most of us do......

That, and....

Flames, lazers, fireworks, spotlights and 50,000-70,000 fans all looking at you.... opening ceremonies at a SX are about as close to being a rockstar as a dirt bike racer could ever hope to be....

Yeah I get the show element, that’s what it all about.

How many of these rock stars are walking around with crutches or worse so far this season ? Not meaning that in a diss respectful way sucks to get hurt anytime. But I just wonder with the list of injured so big so early on, have the track designers got things right ?

Just seems such a meat grinder & I hate to see such talents get hurt.
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Phillip_Lamb
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Phillip_Lamb 2/15/2022 2:12pm
2/15/2022 2:12pm
vet40 wrote:
I can’t get me head around why the most talented riders in the world choose to ride sx. Is the risk rewards really worth it...
I can’t get me head around why the most talented riders in the world choose to ride sx. Is the risk rewards really worth it ?

The tracks can catch anyone out at anytime, when you consider the low track time to injury it’s clear how crazy the danger risks are.

The if you get a poor start your taking so many more risks trying to make passes, must be so frustrating.

If you took the crowd away, all the lights, music & fireworks, just left if as a peaky slippery tight dangerous track that it is, would the riders still want to race it ?

Then on the other hand you have true modern motocross tracks built within some of the most stunning natural terrains, unlimited passing lines, creatively, longer motos, less risks. I can fully understand why the majority of MXGP elite choose to avoid supercross nowadays.

its money.

the SX series just from purse has more than the MXGP (which has none)
then team contracts pay a lot relatively as well
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fins227 2/15/2022 2:19pm
2/15/2022 2:19pm
Time for bears 🐻
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vet40
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vet40 2/15/2022 2:22pm
2/15/2022 2:22pm
Phillip_Lamb wrote:
its money.

the SX series just from purse has more than the MXGP (which has none)
then team contracts pay a lot relatively as well
I see the prize money more helpful to the privateers. The factory’s & supported teams should be paying their riders decently enough in either series.

At some point thou you have to put a value on your health aswell as money. Riders like Prado for example we’re not doubt paid decently but the factory’s in Europe, no need to take the extra risk of these indoor gnarly conditions.

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DonM 2/15/2022 2:49pm
2/15/2022 2:49pm Edited Date/Time 2/15/2022 2:50pm
GateDropGoGo wrote:
Maybe people who choose to race motorcycles for a living don't count beans in the Risk v. Rewards Game the same way that most of us...
Maybe people who choose to race motorcycles for a living don't count beans in the Risk v. Rewards Game the same way that most of us do......

That, and....

Flames, lazers, fireworks, spotlights and 50,000-70,000 fans all looking at you.... opening ceremonies at a SX are about as close to being a rockstar as a dirt bike racer could ever hope to be....

vet40 wrote:
Yeah I get the show element, that’s what it all about. How many of these rock stars are walking around with crutches or worse so far...
Yeah I get the show element, that’s what it all about.

How many of these rock stars are walking around with crutches or worse so far this season ? Not meaning that in a diss respectful way sucks to get hurt anytime. But I just wonder with the list of injured so big so early on, have the track designers got things right ?

Just seems such a meat grinder & I hate to see such talents get hurt.
They both have been decimated by injuries before…both sports are susceptible to major injuries…neither is more dangerous than the other, they are just different….MXGP’s rockstar is the one walking around on crutches right now…
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Alan Dove 2/15/2022 2:54pm
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vet40 wrote:
Yeah I get the show element, that’s what it all about. How many of these rock stars are walking around with crutches or worse so far...
Yeah I get the show element, that’s what it all about.

How many of these rock stars are walking around with crutches or worse so far this season ? Not meaning that in a diss respectful way sucks to get hurt anytime. But I just wonder with the list of injured so big so early on, have the track designers got things right ?

Just seems such a meat grinder & I hate to see such talents get hurt.
There are many many many ordinary people who race dirt bikes just for fun who end up in crunches with an endless list of injuries. Maybe it's the motocross bubble, but as an outsider looking in, the risk level in normal dirt bike riding is off-the-scale. Talents getting injured isn't great, but it's far worse in terms of risk:reward for almost every other human that rides a dirtbike. At least they are getting paid, what's everyone else's excuse?
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TW85
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TW85 2/15/2022 3:27pm
2/15/2022 3:27pm
Money. Tough to get a contract in the U.S. if you want to go outdoors only.

I don’t think many want to ride SX for fun though. It’s rare to see a retired rider riding sx other then a couple test riders. Hanny and Hill (when he’s not racing) are two of the only guys that come to mind that ride SX for fun. Both have amazing talent and it seems to come easy to them.
loftyair
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loftyair 2/15/2022 3:40pm
2/15/2022 3:40pm
If you ever take a track walk after sx is over, you'll be blown away. Outdoors, even more!
lostboy819 2/15/2022 3:42pm
2/15/2022 3:42pm
vet40 wrote:
Yeah I get the show element, that’s what it all about. How many of these rock stars are walking around with crutches or worse so far...
Yeah I get the show element, that’s what it all about.

How many of these rock stars are walking around with crutches or worse so far this season ? Not meaning that in a diss respectful way sucks to get hurt anytime. But I just wonder with the list of injured so big so early on, have the track designers got things right ?

Just seems such a meat grinder & I hate to see such talents get hurt.
So how come Hearlings is always hurt, he doesn't even ride SX ? We get it you don't like SX as you have 30 posts complaining about it. I just cant figure out why anyone who has the opportunity to come to the USA and race SX would not jump on the chance and dump the MXGPs altogether. Cool
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Flatliner 2/15/2022 5:44pm
2/15/2022 5:44pm
vet40 wrote:
Yeah I get the show element, that’s what it all about. How many of these rock stars are walking around with crutches or worse so far...
Yeah I get the show element, that’s what it all about.

How many of these rock stars are walking around with crutches or worse so far this season ? Not meaning that in a diss respectful way sucks to get hurt anytime. But I just wonder with the list of injured so big so early on, have the track designers got things right ?

Just seems such a meat grinder & I hate to see such talents get hurt.
lostboy819 wrote:
So how come Hearlings is always hurt, he doesn't even ride SX ? We get it you don't like SX as you have 30 posts complaining...
So how come Hearlings is always hurt, he doesn't even ride SX ? We get it you don't like SX as you have 30 posts complaining about it. I just cant figure out why anyone who has the opportunity to come to the USA and race SX would not jump on the chance and dump the MXGPs altogether. Cool
The European vs American way of life is just different too.

vet40
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vet40 2/16/2022 1:19am
2/16/2022 1:19am
lostboy819 wrote:
So how come Hearlings is always hurt, he doesn't even ride SX ? We get it you don't like SX as you have 30 posts complaining...
So how come Hearlings is always hurt, he doesn't even ride SX ? We get it you don't like SX as you have 30 posts complaining about it. I just cant figure out why anyone who has the opportunity to come to the USA and race SX would not jump on the chance and dump the MXGPs altogether. Cool
In the past most Mxgp riders would. Your making my point, nowadays they don’t.

Could it be because MXGP riders get paid just as well, riding just one series, travel the world to beautiful locations, riding tracks with passing opportunities, various terrains, not too hot, getting a proper off season, being stronger at MXON.

Have you made a list of the injured riders in SX so far, you think that’s acceptable?
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davis224
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davis224 2/16/2022 2:58am
2/16/2022 2:58am
Judging by the amount of riders that are SX only, I would venture to guess that they prefer it. Can you grasp the concept that other people in this world might have different preferences and priorities than you? If so, why is this thread going on so long?
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