Gear deals for the top guys

I think most of the gear deals are through the race team now, heard it on a Gypsy podcast not too long ago I just can’t remember from who. I think only a couple guys have their own gear brand. I could be totally wrong though 

Almost all 250 teams have team deals, but in the 450 class most factory teams let riders bring over their own. No teams have deals with Alpinestars for Jersey/pants, yet there a fair number of guys in it these days. RB KTM, Star, HRC, Monster Kawi all leave it to the rider to make their own deals. Same with Kenny at Suzuki.

Money has been good the last few years and there hasn't been much reason for the top tier guys to change. Marketing budgets are tightening up again so expect a lot of guys will be switching it up for less money in 25. Ricky was the only one I've ever heard signing a "lifetime" deal.

Fly went after Ap last year but Thor stepped up

Interesting to bring up these moments " RJ from Fox to JT, Bradshaw from Fox to AXO, McGrath from Sinisalo to Fox, Emig from Thor to Shift"

RJ's deal didn't really move the sales needle based on JT's style at the time vs FOX (in my uneducated opinion), however Bradshaw, MC and Emig sure did!

Some good gear marketing for example in 92' I recall Bradshaw wearing a different colourway during a SX from heat to main and of course every new race.  He was on fire and so was AXO back in early 90's

I think Andrew short signed a lifetime deal with fly.

Because back in the day Alpinestars wasn’t handing out blank checks to the top 8 450 riders.

I think Fly is going after a couple of top riders for 2025. 

Seems like riders that sign with Fox or Alpinestars are the ones that really don’t switch though. 

Webb

I remember discussing the contract deal with the Alpinestars athlete manager way back in the day. He signed Emig for $75,000 just for boots after he won the 97 SX Championship. 

I don’t know what they pay now, but I did know what they paid in the mid 2000s, and if I was a betting man, I’d bet there aren’t too many riders today making what Ricky, Chad, and Bubba were pulling down 20 years ago.

WPS laid off about 40% of their US sales staff recently, so they certainly ought to have some money to throw around if they want to.

KTM lets their 250 guys run their own gear deals too, Vialle on Airoh/Thor/Sidi and Beaumer on Arai/Oneal. 

Since Fox and Alpinestars are a one stop shop for every piece of gear especially with Alpinestars soon to start selling goggles as well, probably a little less headache for their riders just dealing with one gear guy on race day and getting stuff to practice in.

I'm sure laying off a bunch of people is a sure sign they have money to burn....🤦‍♂️

Do you really think I was being serious?  Seriously though, the rumor is that the company that bought WPS paid way too much buying it during Covid so they are trying to cut costs in hopes of reselling it.  That would be the driving force behind the layoffs.  I would be surprised if they are throwing out big offers to riders, but I’m certainly not an insider when it comes to WPS, and stranger things have happened.

Trey Canard, too.

The money those guys made on a deal, but not only the "big three" also riders such as Vuillemin, Ferry, Lusk, LaRocco, Tortelli, Albertyn... is what the top riders are getting from their manufacturer/team now. At the end of the '90 start of the "Nillies" you could make big fortunes. Maybe DV can chip in.

When I visited the Seven headquarters a few years ago around the Red Bud MXON 2018, they told me that the Alpinestars budget was huge. A guy like Herlings (as we were Dutch visitors) was way out of their league. I can't recall the numbers they said though.

I Imagine Alpinestars has the biggest budget they are just in so many industries. They are obviously huge in moto GP and car racing, not to mention the shear amount of boots they are selling although I don't really see a ton of guys wearing Alpinestars gear itself. 

Having both Moto GP and Dakar require airbag systems for riders when Alpinestars is pretty much the only company that has one figured out certainly helps profits. 

Reynard signed the first million dollar gear deal with Fox if I remember right. 

with all these riders having their own Youtube channels now, the riders are getting more screen time, those gear deals should be worth a lot more these days.  

I think this is pretty spot on, except for the Dakar part.  I don't think selling an extra 125 air bag systems a year really helps their bottom line and they probably don't even sell that many because some of the dudes get them for free for sure.

I kinda did, yes.  Sorry.