no salary factory rides

cable
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On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big $$ from gear sponsors.    who more recently has ridden for free to be on a factory bike?   Werent there rumors of some even paying to be on a good support team?

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ohh_454
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5/6/2026 10:08pm Edited Date/Time 5/6/2026 10:08pm

Ive heard of people riding for free to ride for ClubMx, but I heard Lux Turner turned down a ride like that with ClubMx for a ride that pays at BarX. I don’t think there’s any guys riding for free on factory teams, even Wil Hahn said he was making like 350k a year from Kawi in the 450 class barely making it out of the LCQ on some nights lol 

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jaun
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5/7/2026 2:12am
cable wrote:
On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big...

On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big $$ from gear sponsors.    who more recently has ridden for free to be on a factory bike?   Werent there rumors of some even paying to be on a good support team?

Prada

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5/7/2026 2:54am
cable wrote:
On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big...

On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big $$ from gear sponsors.    who more recently has ridden for free to be on a factory bike?   Werent there rumors of some even paying to be on a good support team?

jaun wrote:

Prada

Very much doubt that.  He might be in the 250k neighborhood plus bonuses or something but he’s not riding for free.  

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5/7/2026 4:54am
cable wrote:
On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big...

On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big $$ from gear sponsors.    who more recently has ridden for free to be on a factory bike?   Werent there rumors of some even paying to be on a good support team?

jaun wrote:

Prada

Very much doubt that.  He might be in the 250k neighborhood plus bonuses or something but he’s not riding for free.  

The sad thing about this sport is we’ll never know unless he chooses to tell us.  He might not have made much in Supercross, but I’d bet the outdoors might be a different story, and I’m not even a fan.  He’ll just need to learn to deal with the roost instead of taking his throttle hand off the bars to block it this year.

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The Shop

5/7/2026 4:59am

I think there are, and have been people on Star paying to be on Star.  Can't confirm.

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Robgvx
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5/7/2026 9:32am

Plenty of pay riders in MXGP. 

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MelonFan123
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5/7/2026 3:52pm
cable wrote:
On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big...

On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big $$ from gear sponsors.    who more recently has ridden for free to be on a factory bike?   Werent there rumors of some even paying to be on a good support team?

If you're the caliber of rider who gets a no-salary factory - or even satellite ride - than you're probably not getting "big money" from gear sponsors.

The gear deals in our sport pretty much follow the team deals in terms of value. Top guys get the lion's share and 2nd tier factory guys get quite a bit less.

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ohh_454
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5/7/2026 5:50pm

If I win the lottery, you guys will see some complete unknown rookie in his 30s join the Star Racing program!!!

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jaun
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5/8/2026 5:46am

I think personal sponsors and friends kicks in for Ramano's fill in PC ride but that's not really a signed factory ride.

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5/8/2026 5:57am

There is one current 450 factory rider who has paid for rides in the past, but I don’t think any current 450 guys are paying. 

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5/8/2026 5:59am
jaun wrote:

I think personal sponsors and friends kicks in for Ramano's fill in PC ride but that's not really a signed factory ride.

Romano isn’t paying for that ride, but he’s not getting paid either. He got that ride with help from Kitchen. 

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Mossy940
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5/8/2026 6:19am

Bloss at BTO if I recall correctly.

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davistld01
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5/8/2026 8:44am
cable wrote:
On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big...

On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big $$ from gear sponsors.    who more recently has ridden for free to be on a factory bike?   Werent there rumors of some even paying to be on a good support team?

jaun wrote:

Prada

Prado might've originally signed a "bonus only" contract after his shit tenure at Kawie...but I'll betcha KTM has amended that contract by now with the results he's been showing in SX.

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Flatliner
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5/8/2026 8:47am
cable wrote:
On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big...

On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big $$ from gear sponsors.    who more recently has ridden for free to be on a factory bike?   Werent there rumors of some even paying to be on a good support team?

I haven't listened to this one yet... did he say which team?  YOT was paying Casey Johnson 125k per annum in those years.

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Money
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5/8/2026 9:03am

A few at club are riding for free. Blake paid for bto ride for sure. Maybe mosiman at star?

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Dr Wario
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5/8/2026 11:11am
ohh_454 wrote:

If I win the lottery, you guys will see some complete unknown rookie in his 30s join the Star Racing program!!!

I’ll be your mechanic 

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Racerman967
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5/8/2026 12:11pm

This is not uncommon in all forms of racing. Typically when a rider brings money and salary if from that sponsor. Some have family support as stated for that part. But if costs 60k to run a regional series and you can do it for just your 15k in living expenses it is worth it for someone younger. Seems pretty common in the 250 ranks

ohh_454
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5/8/2026 1:59pm
ohh_454 wrote:

If I win the lottery, you guys will see some complete unknown rookie in his 30s join the Star Racing program!!!

Dr Wario wrote:

I’ll be your mechanic 

Hell ya, let’s hope I win this lottery 😁😂😂

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5/8/2026 2:23pm

Wealthy families pay for there kids rides in Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP. Sad that true talent doesn't always come through. 

Educated guess but I'd say F1 is along those lines too 

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5/9/2026 7:03am Edited Date/Time 5/12/2026 6:39am
cable wrote:
On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big...

On the casey lytle podcast with ping, he states he rode for free.  I think a lot of riders have, and the can still make big $$ from gear sponsors.    who more recently has ridden for free to be on a factory bike?   Werent there rumors of some even paying to be on a good support team?

jaun wrote:

Prada

davistld01 wrote:
Prado might've originally signed a "bonus only" contract after his shit tenure at Kawie...but I'll betcha KTM has amended that contract by now with the results...

Prado might've originally signed a "bonus only" contract after his shit tenure at Kawie...but I'll betcha KTM has amended that contract by now with the results he's been showing in SX.

Prado got the deal that Vialle turned down. KTM hasn’t given him anything more. 

Edit: Prado recently re signed with KTM. 

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