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Location
Noosa, QLD
AU
Im over this calling guys who get free bikes and rock up in a Semi trailer a privateer.
A true privateer is someone who buys his own bikes, travels in a van or tows trailer and still maybe even works a little. Maybe even sleeps in their van too.
1. Why cant we have Factory riders.
2. Private teams ie Konskys Firepower, Club MX, etc etc
3. Real privateers as I was one back in the day.
What privateers are rolling up in semis
Matthes etc always talk about private teams being privateers.
A Ray, Clason, Benny up until his latest ride. Club team too.
Most of the team guys earn a salary even if they are very small. If you get free bikes and rock up in a Semi I find it hard to accept that you are a privateer.
Guess you have no understanding of the sport then.
Raced for 26yrs in Aus in Pro class
yeah no idea
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Clason, Marchbanks, Phil, Jmart, Yoder, Friese, Oldenberg, Mumford, Ferrandis, Drake, Poitelli, Varize, Cullen Park, Shock, ect
Some of these dudes that are on those “private teams” pay money to be on there.
so that is technically paying for their stuff….
I actually agree with this. There are tiers to being a "privateer". Some of these guys are making $100k+. Most of them are paid from gear deals and some get multiple free bikes they sell at the end of the year, etc. The only portion of their racing some are responsible for is travel, and some get that paid.
Someone I talk to heard it come straight out of the mouth of one of these riders how much he makes per season, It is over $100k. Now, I can't confirm if that's net of expenses or what but there is more money coming in for these dudes than people think. Most of them aren't starving and have relationships with a ton of companies in the industry.
Unless you’re independently wealthy I don’t see how you could make it as a “true privateer”
Somebody is paying for these guys to get there and I don’t think it’s possible to be at the top with a full time job outside of riding
Moranz is 100% privateer, he’s just doing it better than the rest.
Here's a walk through of Kevin Moranz's new rig for 2024. I do believe that the fact that some privateer efforts have rigs, etc. is overall healthy for the sport, hopefully this continues and we see higher salaries trickle down to the privateers. Or just salaries in general, I imagine some of the privateers are paying for access and support through some of these teams.
Agreed...he's doing an awesome job at it. The kid hustles, and he's a great rider!
If they don't run back to their bike after an accident to stop it revving till it blows then they aren't a privateer. A true privateer will run to his bike to hit the kill switch even with both legs missing.
Jason Clermont, an authentic french privateer, qualified for the main this weekend.
The dude works in construction in France all year round and goes to the french SX events only with a car. He loads his bike and gear in a Peugeot 307 which is like a Honda Civic for you guys.
Took all his money, flew to America, bought a used bike and here he is making mains!
Soubeyras shows it here at 16:26. You can auto translate the subtitles
I agree there should be a different term, there is a difference between a non factory professional team (NFPT) and a true privateer. NFPT's have real funding, paid employees, and a professional truck driver. I worked on a couple of these teams, and our operating costs for one weekend were probably more then most "privateers" spend in a season. There are plenty of real privateers whom not only buy their own bikes, they also have to be their own mechanic, and truck driver.
Ask their accountants who is or isn’t a privateer.
So do we have a list on who is really a Privateer?
My son Doc Smith, worked all summer long to save money to race SX. He drove his van from Tx to Ca and works on his own bikes. He buys his own bikes and parts. Was going to sleep in his van for the west rounds but got a deal on staying at Grindstone. Where he sleeps in a shared dorm room and pays rent for bed and shop space. He lives on the money Feld pays. That is as privateer as it comes. How long can he do it? I don’t know but he is giving his dream the best chance he can. I’m very proud of him making it happen on his own.
https://www.instagram.com/docsmith464?igsh=MTZnYnJkYmE3anUxYw==
Privateer: Matty B with loaded semi.
Pit Row
Correct, apparently there are 15 Factory riders.
Then private teams
Firepower - Wilson, Anstie
Clubmx - Phil, Marchbanks etc
MCR - Friese, Freckle
Tedder - Hill bros
Clasons Kawi team
Then privateers that live off the purse money and people helping them out.
The Deegan Hepp interview with pulp today was true privateer sounding living in his moto van full time traveling the circuit and making mains
Based off of the Merriam Webster definition, private teams and individual riders are both correct:
Privateer 1 of 2noun
pri·va·teer ˌprī-və-ˈti(ə)r
1: an armed (parts) private ship (team) permitted by its government (factory) to make war (race) on ships (teams) of an enemy country (manufacturer)
2: a sailor (rider) on a privateer (see above)
Doc Smith needs some help getting to the races and is full privateer
Would larger teams like Club/HEP be better categorized as a satellite team? I imagine both receive some assistance with free parts/bikes from the manufacturer.
Moranz will do well after his racing career is over.
That was impressive.
That is a badass story. Mark one for the common man.
A good privateer is someone that pulls their own program together like Kevin Moranz or Starling. I assure you they don’t buy all their stuff, but they are the elite of the privateer level. Moranz has a semi now. But like he built the team and is the only rider. Starling’s pit set up looks factory as well. Still privateers.
I don’t think privateer means all non factory. If someone pays for your flights and travel and everything you ride and you didn’t procure that source of revenue yourself you’re a support rider not a privateer
Yes correct, there are one or two that have their own semis.
What I was referring to is Deano, Anstie, Phil, Marchbanks etc aren't privateers.
They are private teams with great funding and get help from the factories even if it is only free bikes and parts allowance.
That'd be the C class here in the states
The sport seems to have passed this by for the most part, and that's ok. Means more riders make a living.
I rode in the states at Perris and at few other tracks with the japanese HRC factory boys.
Went to A1 and Phoenix SX watched Stew, MC, Reed, RC, KDub, Pastrana was all time.
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