Paying to be on a team

cloverdale
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What riders pay to be on a semi privateer (or semi factory depending on your terminology) team? Say Club MX as an example.

Please note there is nothing wrong with paying for your ride. Heck even a recent Indy 500 winner paid for his ride! 

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olderandYZer
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2/8/2025 3:47pm

Knowbody wants to admit they are "paying" to be on a team. It sounds like the sport is "jenkey" as some Podcasters say.  

 

We all know it goes on.  Too me  I could care less as long as the racing is good and fair.  

 

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LungButter
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2/8/2025 3:50pm Edited Date/Time 2/8/2025 4:26pm
Knowbody wants to admit they are "paying" to be on a team. It sounds like the sport is "jenkey" as some Podcasters say.   We all know...

Knowbody wants to admit they are "paying" to be on a team. It sounds like the sport is "jenkey" as some Podcasters say.  

 

We all know it goes on.  Too me  I could care less as long as the racing is good and fair.  

 

I feel the same way. 

Reality is a huge number of dudes in the pits wouldn’t be there if Daddy & Mommy or some rich buddy weren’t funding it at some level. 

Edit to add: Not trying to shit on them. If that’s what my kid wanted to do and I had the means, I’d cut a check for it. 

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sandman768
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2/8/2025 4:03pm

All you have to do is qualify for 1 national or SX…. Then you have a lifetime career as a trainer/ coach👌on a serious note… chase your dreams and never give up on yourself! I came close to qualifying for a National once, I should have kept trying….Its a big deal for most of us to qualify….

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2/8/2025 4:14pm

I would say, unless it is their family paying, that sponsors provide funding for the rider to race. Happens all the time in motorsport. I doubt MX is big enough to have too many riders doing this though. One issue with MX is how little advertising space is on the bikes. One thing they could do it make the numbers smaller or something.

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The Shop

2/8/2025 4:26pm
cloverdale wrote:
What riders pay to be on a semi privateer (or semi factory depending on your terminology) team? Say Club MX as an example.Please note there is...

What riders pay to be on a semi privateer (or semi factory depending on your terminology) team? Say Club MX as an example.

Please note there is nothing wrong with paying for your ride. Heck even a recent Indy 500 winner paid for his ride! 

Which recent Indy 500 winner “paid” for his ride?

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Spoonguy
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2/8/2025 4:42pm

So what if anyone does? I hope they make the most of their investment.

lumpy790
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2/8/2025 5:04pm

This isn’t NASCAR where that happens

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Money
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2/8/2025 6:02pm

Mosiman n bennick 

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cloverdale
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2/8/2025 6:27pm
Money wrote:

Mosiman n bennick 

Thx

2/8/2025 10:50pm

3 riders right now that I know of, but I’m not saying who. 

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devotid
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2/9/2025 1:01am

I always wondered about Ronnie Stewart. Dude never had any "great" results but I saw him year after year in the pits. Seemed like he was just having fun and racing because he loved it. Seemed like a nice guy too. 

I say... if you can afford it.. who cares?

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wicksy85
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2/9/2025 2:27am

I know with Yarrive in Australia you can buy your spot on the team, mind you it'll be close to 6 figures and then the only money you'll get it prize money.

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2/9/2025 3:52am
devotid wrote:
I always wondered about Ronnie Stewart. Dude never had any "great" results but I saw him year after year in the pits. Seemed like he was...

I always wondered about Ronnie Stewart. Dude never had any "great" results but I saw him year after year in the pits. Seemed like he was just having fun and racing because he loved it. Seemed like a nice guy too. 

I say... if you can afford it.. who cares?

He also brought a Army of folks to every race

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joan'anas
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2/9/2025 5:07am

Justin Cooper has to pay, how could he be a factory rider being so slow in the whoops. Take a good start thank to his factory ride and ride backward 

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kage173
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2/9/2025 5:22am

Yeah I'd like to know.

F1 is supposedly the most elite motosport in the world and it's common for drivers to buy a ride. They don't hide it. Hell, Lance Strolls father bought an entire car company to give his son a ride.

Money
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2/9/2025 5:28am
joan'anas wrote:
Justin Cooper has to pay, how could he be a factory rider being so slow in the whoops. Take a good start thank to his factory...

Justin Cooper has to pay, how could he be a factory rider being so slow in the whoops. Take a good start thank to his factory ride and ride backward 

He is not paying. I could see Mumford having to pay. 

sandman768
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2/9/2025 5:33am

When you think about it…..we all pay right up to the point of being good enough to get paid…. If you are on the cusp of making it and all you need is better equipped and or organization…why not give it a shot…..every decent privateer needs a rich friend😂

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kage173
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2/9/2025 5:50am
Spoonguy wrote:

So what if anyone does? I hope they make the most of their investment.

Where it rubs people the wrong way is when they pretend it's not happening and that they earned the ride. 

We all agree that if we had the money, we'd do that for our kid. And no kid should turn that opportunity down. 

But, they buy the ride, then walk around like they earned it with speed, talent, and sacrifice. That's where it's not cool. 

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Spoonguy
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2/9/2025 5:56am
Spoonguy wrote:

So what if anyone does? I hope they make the most of their investment.

kage173 wrote:
Where it rubs people the wrong way is when they pretend it's not happening and that they earned the ride. We all agree that if we had...

Where it rubs people the wrong way is when they pretend it's not happening and that they earned the ride. 

We all agree that if we had the money, we'd do that for our kid. And no kid should turn that opportunity down. 

But, they buy the ride, then walk around like they earned it with speed, talent, and sacrifice. That's where it's not cool. 

Who are the they you are referring too? Pretty sure even the riders who do not pay for rides, that have "earned it" are pretty grateful about being selected for a team, don't you agree? As far as spending money on your kid, I think college is a far better option as well.

sandman768
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2/9/2025 5:57am
kage173 wrote:
Where it rubs people the wrong way is when they pretend it's not happening and that they earned the ride. We all agree that if we had...

Where it rubs people the wrong way is when they pretend it's not happening and that they earned the ride. 

We all agree that if we had the money, we'd do that for our kid. And no kid should turn that opportunity down. 

But, they buy the ride, then walk around like they earned it with speed, talent, and sacrifice. That's where it's not cool. 

Thats most of society….over financed and smoke screen appearances …. 1 paycheck away from the repo man visit….

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SonofThor32
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2/9/2025 6:05am
joan'anas wrote:
Justin Cooper has to pay, how could he be a factory rider being so slow in the whoops. Take a good start thank to his factory...

Justin Cooper has to pay, how could he be a factory rider being so slow in the whoops. Take a good start thank to his factory ride and ride backward 

Before you shit all over Cooper, let's not forget what he did for the USA at MXoN in 2022.  He is also a 250 champ, settle down sailor.

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kage173
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2/9/2025 6:19am Edited Date/Time 2/10/2025 6:20pm
Spoonguy wrote:
Who are the they you are referring too? Pretty sure even the riders who do not pay for rides, that have "earned it" are pretty grateful...

Who are the they you are referring too? Pretty sure even the riders who do not pay for rides, that have "earned it" are pretty grateful about being selected for a team, don't you agree? As far as spending money on your kid, I think college is a far better option as well.

I dont understand your point. The "they" are obviously the very wealthy people who buy rides they would not otherwise have. 

And, of course the riders who earned the rides through results (instead if buying it) are grateful.

Not sure how it counters my point.

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Shenzi
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2/9/2025 6:37am
kage173 wrote:
Yeah I'd like to know.F1 is supposedly the most elite motosport in the world and it's common for drivers to buy a ride. They don't hide...

Yeah I'd like to know.

F1 is supposedly the most elite motosport in the world and it's common for drivers to buy a ride. They don't hide it. Hell, Lance Strolls father bought an entire car company to give his son a ride.

F1, MotoGP, WRC, they don't hide it in those sports. 

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Spoonguy
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2/9/2025 6:45am
Spoonguy wrote:
Who are the they you are referring too? Pretty sure even the riders who do not pay for rides, that have "earned it" are pretty grateful...

Who are the they you are referring too? Pretty sure even the riders who do not pay for rides, that have "earned it" are pretty grateful about being selected for a team, don't you agree? As far as spending money on your kid, I think college is a far better option as well.

kage173 wrote:
I dont understand your point. The "they" are obviously the very wealthy people who buy rides they would not otherwise have. And, of course the riders who...

I dont understand your point. The "they" are obviously the very wealthy people who buy rides they would not otherwise have. 

And, of course the riders who earned the rides through results (instead if buying it) are grateful.

Not sure how it counters my point.

Not being contrary, but my point is what do I care what rich people do with their money? None of my business, is it? Let them "walk around like they earned it", so what if they do, who does that hurt? Plenty of wealthy kids drive pretty nice cars, get good educations, have great spring break vacations as well, why should that rub anybody the wrong way, good for them. Maybe it's me, but it really has never mattered to me somebody having something I cannot afford.

Darrin Willis
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2/9/2025 6:52am
Spoonguy wrote:
Who are the they you are referring too? Pretty sure even the riders who do not pay for rides, that have "earned it" are pretty grateful...

Who are the they you are referring too? Pretty sure even the riders who do not pay for rides, that have "earned it" are pretty grateful about being selected for a team, don't you agree? As far as spending money on your kid, I think college is a far better option as well.

kage173 wrote:
I dont understand your point. The "they" are obviously the very wealthy people who buy rides they would not otherwise have. And, of course the riders who...

I dont understand your point. The "they" are obviously the very wealthy people who buy rides they would not otherwise have. 

And, of course the riders who earned the rides through results (instead if buying it) are grateful.

Not sure how it counters my point.

Spoonguy wrote:
Not being contrary, but my point is what do I care what rich people do with their money? None of my business, is it? Let them...

Not being contrary, but my point is what do I care what rich people do with their money? None of my business, is it? Let them "walk around like they earned it", so what if they do, who does that hurt? Plenty of wealthy kids drive pretty nice cars, get good educations, have great spring break vacations as well, why should that rub anybody the wrong way, good for them. Maybe it's me, but it really has never mattered to me somebody having something I cannot afford.

I hear ya but dam im curious about the question.  I wanna know!

gti
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2/9/2025 7:27am

Thury

kage173
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2/9/2025 11:26am
Spoonguy wrote:
Not being contrary, but my point is what do I care what rich people do with their money? None of my business, is it? Let them...

Not being contrary, but my point is what do I care what rich people do with their money? None of my business, is it? Let them "walk around like they earned it", so what if they do, who does that hurt? Plenty of wealthy kids drive pretty nice cars, get good educations, have great spring break vacations as well, why should that rub anybody the wrong way, good for them. Maybe it's me, but it really has never mattered to me somebody having something I cannot afford.

I think we agree on that part. I said the same thing.

Where we appear to disagree is that I think it's uncool to keep it quiet and to pretend that you just earned the ride from results. 

Some body posted earlier that they know of 3 guys paying for rides, but he was too scared to name them. So, obviously these guys, and/or the teams put pressure on everyone.

As opposed to F1 and other motorsports where people are open about it.

2/9/2025 11:38am

Isn't that part of the reason the owner of Rock River Yamaha is suing a rider or 2 is because the rider(s) didn't pay what they were contracted to? Or was it just that they did not return their bikes?

Was it ever disclosed who these rider(s) were?

 

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olds cool
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2/9/2025 12:39pm

I would guess that in the Truck series and Xfinity series in NASCAR, a good portion, if not more than half of the rides are bought by rich parents or drivers coming with a built in sponsor.  Some Cup rides but a smaller percentage. 

It’s just the nature of high level racing, whether it’s 2 wheels or 4.

2/9/2025 12:57pm

Speaking of paying for rides, did we ever find out who the riders were from Rock River that Mike Duclose was suing?

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