AMA Not Paying?

El Capitan
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7/23/2026 8:30pm
3strokemx wrote:
"We can only look at the facts and statements presented plus what are the odds of something"Which scenario do you think is more likely?A.There's a...

"We can only look at the facts and statements presented plus what are the odds of something"

Which scenario do you think is more likely?

A.There's a problem with the payments.
B. Aden didn't submit a W9 correctly.
 

There you go again, using partial information.  B. Should read. B. Aden, Oldenberg, Gavin, and all riders he spoke with regarding getting paid (no one/nobody) "didn't submit...

There you go again, using partial information.  

B. Should read. 

B. Aden, Oldenberg, Gavin, and all riders he spoke with regarding getting paid (no one/nobody) "didn't submit a W9 correctly."

 

I'll stop with that.  Everyone here can now see what a shill you are.  You can't even admit when you clearly have lost an argument.  Good luck on your shilling.  Keep on keepin on. 

3strokemx wrote:
Aden didn't speak with Oldernburg, he overheard a conversation and assumed he knew the topic and purpose. Since you're a lawyer you might recognize that as...

Aden didn't speak with Oldernburg, he overheard a conversation and assumed he knew the topic and purpose. Since you're a lawyer you might recognize that as hearsay?

How long have you been here? Every gottdamm one of us on here is an anonymous internet lawyer. 

/s/ El Capitan, Esq. 

11
Tyler D
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7/23/2026 9:40pm
3strokemx wrote:

Seems like the paperwork issue is on Aden's side.  That's quite a bit different than your anaolgy. 

Spoonguy wrote:
Aden not having the proper paperwork is your assumption. Keefer stated two other riders who have been pros several years not getting paid, they haven't done...

Aden not having the proper paperwork is your assumption. Keefer stated two other riders who have been pros several years not getting paid, they haven't done the paperwork either? Why would Aden's parents mention him and others not getting paid if Aden didn't fill out the proper paperwork? Surely his parents would know that. And his sponsors for that matter. And no, if his paperwork isn't filled out to pay him, I think there would be legal issues to allow him to enter a professional event. The point of entering a pro event is to get paid to participate.

Surely his parents would know that.  His mom does nails and his Dad rode dirt bikes his whole life.  Great assumption they know what needs to...

Surely his parents would know that.  His mom does nails and his Dad rode dirt bikes his whole life.  Great assumption they know what needs to be submitted

his dad tests dirt bikes as an independent contractor you say? as a career? and writes about it? with words? on paper?

 

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Not hillbilly
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7/23/2026 10:09pm

Stuff we know for sure:

  1. Keefer’s son said, on his dad’s podcast, that he didn’t get paid.
  2. None of the moto journalists who might be following this thread have weighed in with any evidence to set the record straight. 

    That’s about it.

13
2
WhipMeister
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7/23/2026 10:26pm
ML512 wrote:
I don't have a good contact at WSX right now. The rider wasn't bothered by it and said it was all cleared up, and I have...

I don't have a good contact at WSX right now. The rider wasn't bothered by it and said it was all cleared up, and I have 19 million other things to work on. If it were a standing issue and I had a bunch of riders bringing it up, I'd do some digging.

I get told weird rumors, stories, and odd things nearly all day. I try to follow up on as much as I can, but as I've also learned the past year or so...a 18 hour a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year schedule is hard on the body...mind...and relationships/friendships. I took my first ever vacation this year since I became a "working man" over 15 years ago.

I'm also not a "full-time reporter". I'm not using this as a copout, but I hold a million roles. I'm the staff photographer, product reviewer, and director of all content. I run all our social media accounts, sales meetings, and I've been on over 80 airplanes this year...having easily spent over two weeks airborne. I also manage this forum, responsible for multiple weekly editorials, YouTube videos, and podcasts. I also spend a chunk of time each week giving brands, team owners, and some riders advice or connections they need. I deal with budgets, PL sheets, staff expense reports, and much more.

Remember that whole Deegan/bike claim debacle? I spent over 40 hours that week on phone calls, digging, texts, and producing a feature on that. 

This is not News Weekly, where there are multiple reporters who can spend their entire working week on a single story.

As for what I decide to work on, stuff that matters to the majority of viewers and a big part of that is consistent features that people enjoy. Pit Bits, bike intros, the great race coverage we do, the interviews, this forum , the podcasts, reporting on the things I can get right and mean something to a broad amount of readers.

For some, the gritty darkness of the sport is what they care most about, but the broad user base doesn't as much. Gotta strike a balance and build something for everyone, not just be full TMZ 24/7.

I feel your pain. Just set some hard boundaries (and defend them).

The Shop

FIREfish148
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Kirkland, WA, USA
7/24/2026 12:25am

Maybe they don’t feel the need to pay them since it’s such little pay. 

Damn shame it’s 2026 and there’s still no collective bargaining in moto to help the racers that aren’t from generational wealth. It’s never going to happen though. It’s the retard rednecks vs the little men that never got laid till they married their bitch wife. 😂 

Dudes like Keefer can’t even stand up for his kid getting jipped. Shits pathetic. Fuck racer x, no one reads that shit anyways now a days 

1
10
dingaling
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7/24/2026 2:08am
lumpy790 wrote:
Out of curiosity for timeframe perspective I looked up Aden Keefer’s Pro results and he did just get his Pro card after racing the futures/next class...

Out of curiosity for timeframe perspective I looked up Aden Keefer’s Pro results and he did just get his Pro card after racing the futures/next class in SX. At Round 1 he didn't make it through qualifying. At Round 2 at Hangtown on June 6, 2026 (6 weeks) he did make it in and it looks like every round since then.

IMG 2185

https://racerxonline.com/rider/aden-keefer/races

Cool story bro.

What's your point in relation to this topic?

4
3strokemx
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7/24/2026 4:53am
Ok, maybe last post on this.  Lol.  Does anyone else notice, multiple times, he avoids answering anything about other riders mentioned. Many people have mentioned the...

Ok, maybe last post on this.  Lol.  

Does anyone else notice, multiple times, he avoids answering anything about other riders mentioned. Many people have mentioned the other riders. It's as if he works for an entity.  He sure shills well.  Just avoid the things that prove you wrong, and you keep saying the same thing.  Hope he gets employee of the month.  He deserves it, fo sho. 

3strokemx wrote:
Awesome endorsement, I hope MX Sports hires me because of this 😂The other riders isn't a big deal to me, it's a rumor we heard from...

Awesome endorsement, I hope MX Sports hires me because of this 😂

The other riders isn't a big deal to me, it's a rumor we heard from a kid who isn't mature enough to ask the promoters why he didn't get his payout.  
 

He's still young and will figure things out eventually, but that's not a very credible source IMO.

 

Spoonguy wrote:
Make up your mind friend either he is mature enough to be held accountable for the alledged, imagined, postulated, theorized W9, or he's not mature enough...

Make up your mind friend either he is mature enough to be held accountable for the alledged, imagined, postulated, theorized W9, or he's not mature enough to even ask for money. Which is it? As far as legal issues with a W9, just an observation, but in decades of owning a business myself, if you needed a W9, you got all that done before you could even start work - I have never nor ever knew anybody who needed a W9 to work and was allowed to work before that was done. If riders are required to complete a W9 to get paid, again why are riders allowed to ride without one? Is this so it is easier to delay payment to the riders, if so it works swell.

That's a characteristic of that 17-22 age range, everyone expects you to know what you're doing but you don't.  

4
Spoonguy
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7/24/2026 4:55am
Stuff we know for sure:Keefer’s son said, on his dad’s podcast, that he didn’t get paid.None of the moto journalists who might be following this thread...

Stuff we know for sure:

  1. Keefer’s son said, on his dad’s podcast, that he didn’t get paid.
  2. None of the moto journalists who might be following this thread have weighed in with any evidence to set the record straight. 

    That’s about it.

Pretty damning itself.

1
4
3strokemx
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7/24/2026 4:57am
El Capitan wrote:

How long have you been here? Every gottdamm one of us on here is an anonymous internet lawyer. 

/s/ El Capitan, Esq. 

LOL there were some posts edited after someone got accused of being a lawyer, hit a little too close to home.

1
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8tensolutions
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7/24/2026 5:27am
Spoonguy wrote:
Aden not having the proper paperwork is your assumption. Keefer stated two other riders who have been pros several years not getting paid, they haven't done...

Aden not having the proper paperwork is your assumption. Keefer stated two other riders who have been pros several years not getting paid, they haven't done the paperwork either? Why would Aden's parents mention him and others not getting paid if Aden didn't fill out the proper paperwork? Surely his parents would know that. And his sponsors for that matter. And no, if his paperwork isn't filled out to pay him, I think there would be legal issues to allow him to enter a professional event. The point of entering a pro event is to get paid to participate.

Surely his parents would know that.  His mom does nails and his Dad rode dirt bikes his whole life.  Great assumption they know what needs to...

Surely his parents would know that.  His mom does nails and his Dad rode dirt bikes his whole life.  Great assumption they know what needs to be submitted

Tyler D wrote:
his dad tests dirt bikes as an independent contractor you say? as a career? and writes about it? with words? on paper? 

his dad tests dirt bikes as an independent contractor you say? as a career? and writes about it? with words? on paper?

 

And that means he understands how contract pay works?  Sure thing. 

6
MXRalph
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7/24/2026 6:04am

This thread would be better with more (early) Metallica

3
Spoonguy
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7/24/2026 9:15am
3strokemx wrote:
Awesome endorsement, I hope MX Sports hires me because of this 😂The other riders isn't a big deal to me, it's a rumor we heard from...

Awesome endorsement, I hope MX Sports hires me because of this 😂

The other riders isn't a big deal to me, it's a rumor we heard from a kid who isn't mature enough to ask the promoters why he didn't get his payout.  
 

He's still young and will figure things out eventually, but that's not a very credible source IMO.

 

Spoonguy wrote:
Make up your mind friend either he is mature enough to be held accountable for the alledged, imagined, postulated, theorized W9, or he's not mature enough...

Make up your mind friend either he is mature enough to be held accountable for the alledged, imagined, postulated, theorized W9, or he's not mature enough to even ask for money. Which is it? As far as legal issues with a W9, just an observation, but in decades of owning a business myself, if you needed a W9, you got all that done before you could even start work - I have never nor ever knew anybody who needed a W9 to work and was allowed to work before that was done. If riders are required to complete a W9 to get paid, again why are riders allowed to ride without one? Is this so it is easier to delay payment to the riders, if so it works swell.

3strokemx wrote:

That's a characteristic of that 17-22 age range, everyone expects you to know what you're doing but you don't.  

That age that fight wars for us.

2
1
Spurdo
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7/24/2026 9:41am

Will the 5 man team of posters known as "Uptite" please give us some insider knowledge please. 

5
DonM
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7/24/2026 3:21pm Edited Date/Time 7/24/2026 3:24pm

This should clear it up for the pitchfork crowd......

How the Riders Get Paid (DC)

On Sunday afternoon, Kris Keefer, a longtime colleague and contributor to this magazine and website, his wife Heather, and their son Aden, released a new episode of their PulpMX podcast, "Summer School." The entertaining podcast documents their family's journey through Aden's rookie summer in Pro Motocross, where he rides for the Phoenix Honda team. He has qualified for the 40-man 250 final six times so far but has yet to earn his first national point; he'll get there soon. Still, qualifying for those six races should have landed him some purse money, but as of their podcast recording on Sunday, Aden had yet to receive any purse money from MX Sports Pro Racing. Yes, it's MX Sports Pro Racing, not the AMA, that handles both entries and purse payouts in Pro Motocross, and that's where the confusion started for the Keefer family. They assumed that the AMA disburses the money, and repeated mentions were made of other riders in the paddock who they heard had not been paid either.

As soon as the podcast went live, people started posting online and on social media, questioning why no one had been paid for Pro Motocross all season long. Then the piling on started, especially in the darker corners of the internet and message forums. That's what happens when a podcast host says, "Dear AMA, when are these guys getting paid? Sincerely, the Keefers," and, "We're seven rounds in, people. Nobody has gotten paid!" And then again, "We gotta figure this out. But yeah: Dear AMA, please pay us. Sincerely, the riders."

Of course, my phone started ringing as people started asking how a series enjoying record turnouts could not even pay the riders.

Well, MX Sports Pro Racing is paying the riders, just like always. In fact, almost every rider has been paid like usual. Turns out a few riders—including Aden Keefer—have had issues submitting paperwork that would allow them to get paid. I looked into the Keefers' situation, and it turned out the family had not filled out the W-9 form for Aden that every rider getting paid must complete. MX Sports Pro Racing did not realize Aden had not been paid because the family thought they needed to talk to the AMA, not MX Sports Pro Racing. Needless to say, they now know, and Aden was paid for the six races he qualified for earlier this week.

There were a few other riders who we were told had somehow not been paid, so we called each one of them or their team managers. In the case of Bubba Pauli's ISRT Kawasaki team, Vince Friese had at first entered the wrong routing number, and Norway's Cornelius Tondel (now with Monster Energy Kawasaki) had not provided MX Sports Pro Racing with a U.S. bank for direct deposit. Both situations have now been rectified, according to Pauli himself.

Beta teammates Mitchell Oldenburg and Benny Bloss were also said to have not been paid, but when I spoke to Mitchell, he said it had been sorted a while back. When MX Sports Pro Racing's Kelly Kirby called Benny, he did not know what she was talking about.

Finally, Gavin Towers was mentioned in the podcast. Kelly told me that there was no sign of a problem, and he had not said or sent anything otherwise. I called him anyway and left a message but did not hear back yet.

MX Sports Pro Racing has been paying by direct deposit for more than a dozen years—80 riders per race, every two weeks during the season (though with Monster Energy Supercross now paying every week, that's something we will likely change next year). We've seen problems arise due to inaccurate routing numbers, foreign banks, lack of complete paperwork, etc. We always get to the bottom of any issue and get the riders/teams paid ASAP and will continue to do so moving forward. In the meantime, if any participant out there other than the ones listed here is having any sort of issue, please let Kelly know: Kelly@mxsports.com.

26
3
The Wolf Man
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7/24/2026 3:28pm
truck wrote:
How hard would it be for someone in the know to text any of the media guys they know and say "the guys just need to...

How hard would it be for someone in the know to text any of the media guys they know and say "the guys just need to submit the right paperwork to get paid" and then the story goes away with a tweet. 

Or get that info for the riders asking about it at riders meetings before it ends up being discussed on a podcast. 

Even if it's the case that it's on the riders to get paperwork submitted, it's still a clown show that it's gotten to this point. 

Queefer is an attention seeking drama queen. 

2
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The Wolf Man
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7/24/2026 3:31pm
DonM wrote:
This should clear it up for the pitchfork crowd......How the Riders Get Paid (DC)On Sunday afternoon, Kris Keefer, a longtime colleague and contributor to...

This should clear it up for the pitchfork crowd......

How the Riders Get Paid (DC)

On Sunday afternoon, Kris Keefer, a longtime colleague and contributor to this magazine and website, his wife Heather, and their son Aden, released a new episode of their PulpMX podcast, "Summer School." The entertaining podcast documents their family's journey through Aden's rookie summer in Pro Motocross, where he rides for the Phoenix Honda team. He has qualified for the 40-man 250 final six times so far but has yet to earn his first national point; he'll get there soon. Still, qualifying for those six races should have landed him some purse money, but as of their podcast recording on Sunday, Aden had yet to receive any purse money from MX Sports Pro Racing. Yes, it's MX Sports Pro Racing, not the AMA, that handles both entries and purse payouts in Pro Motocross, and that's where the confusion started for the Keefer family. They assumed that the AMA disburses the money, and repeated mentions were made of other riders in the paddock who they heard had not been paid either.

As soon as the podcast went live, people started posting online and on social media, questioning why no one had been paid for Pro Motocross all season long. Then the piling on started, especially in the darker corners of the internet and message forums. That's what happens when a podcast host says, "Dear AMA, when are these guys getting paid? Sincerely, the Keefers," and, "We're seven rounds in, people. Nobody has gotten paid!" And then again, "We gotta figure this out. But yeah: Dear AMA, please pay us. Sincerely, the riders."

Of course, my phone started ringing as people started asking how a series enjoying record turnouts could not even pay the riders.

Well, MX Sports Pro Racing is paying the riders, just like always. In fact, almost every rider has been paid like usual. Turns out a few riders—including Aden Keefer—have had issues submitting paperwork that would allow them to get paid. I looked into the Keefers' situation, and it turned out the family had not filled out the W-9 form for Aden that every rider getting paid must complete. MX Sports Pro Racing did not realize Aden had not been paid because the family thought they needed to talk to the AMA, not MX Sports Pro Racing. Needless to say, they now know, and Aden was paid for the six races he qualified for earlier this week.

There were a few other riders who we were told had somehow not been paid, so we called each one of them or their team managers. In the case of Bubba Pauli's ISRT Kawasaki team, Vince Friese had at first entered the wrong routing number, and Norway's Cornelius Tondel (now with Monster Energy Kawasaki) had not provided MX Sports Pro Racing with a U.S. bank for direct deposit. Both situations have now been rectified, according to Pauli himself.

Beta teammates Mitchell Oldenburg and Benny Bloss were also said to have not been paid, but when I spoke to Mitchell, he said it had been sorted a while back. When MX Sports Pro Racing's Kelly Kirby called Benny, he did not know what she was talking about.

Finally, Gavin Towers was mentioned in the podcast. Kelly told me that there was no sign of a problem, and he had not said or sent anything otherwise. I called him anyway and left a message but did not hear back yet.

MX Sports Pro Racing has been paying by direct deposit for more than a dozen years—80 riders per race, every two weeks during the season (though with Monster Energy Supercross now paying every week, that's something we will likely change next year). We've seen problems arise due to inaccurate routing numbers, foreign banks, lack of complete paperwork, etc. We always get to the bottom of any issue and get the riders/teams paid ASAP and will continue to do so moving forward. In the meantime, if any participant out there other than the ones listed here is having any sort of issue, please let Kelly know: Kelly@mxsports.com.

So those rocket scientists The Queefers had problems filling in a form? 

Who would have thought...

Kris Keefer joins the list for VMXdN Foxhill 2023! - Dirt Hub

1
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Justthefacts
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7/24/2026 3:46pm
DonM wrote:
This should clear it up for the pitchfork crowd......How the Riders Get Paid (DC)On Sunday afternoon, Kris Keefer, a longtime colleague and contributor to...

This should clear it up for the pitchfork crowd......

How the Riders Get Paid (DC)

On Sunday afternoon, Kris Keefer, a longtime colleague and contributor to this magazine and website, his wife Heather, and their son Aden, released a new episode of their PulpMX podcast, "Summer School." The entertaining podcast documents their family's journey through Aden's rookie summer in Pro Motocross, where he rides for the Phoenix Honda team. He has qualified for the 40-man 250 final six times so far but has yet to earn his first national point; he'll get there soon. Still, qualifying for those six races should have landed him some purse money, but as of their podcast recording on Sunday, Aden had yet to receive any purse money from MX Sports Pro Racing. Yes, it's MX Sports Pro Racing, not the AMA, that handles both entries and purse payouts in Pro Motocross, and that's where the confusion started for the Keefer family. They assumed that the AMA disburses the money, and repeated mentions were made of other riders in the paddock who they heard had not been paid either.

As soon as the podcast went live, people started posting online and on social media, questioning why no one had been paid for Pro Motocross all season long. Then the piling on started, especially in the darker corners of the internet and message forums. That's what happens when a podcast host says, "Dear AMA, when are these guys getting paid? Sincerely, the Keefers," and, "We're seven rounds in, people. Nobody has gotten paid!" And then again, "We gotta figure this out. But yeah: Dear AMA, please pay us. Sincerely, the riders."

Of course, my phone started ringing as people started asking how a series enjoying record turnouts could not even pay the riders.

Well, MX Sports Pro Racing is paying the riders, just like always. In fact, almost every rider has been paid like usual. Turns out a few riders—including Aden Keefer—have had issues submitting paperwork that would allow them to get paid. I looked into the Keefers' situation, and it turned out the family had not filled out the W-9 form for Aden that every rider getting paid must complete. MX Sports Pro Racing did not realize Aden had not been paid because the family thought they needed to talk to the AMA, not MX Sports Pro Racing. Needless to say, they now know, and Aden was paid for the six races he qualified for earlier this week.

There were a few other riders who we were told had somehow not been paid, so we called each one of them or their team managers. In the case of Bubba Pauli's ISRT Kawasaki team, Vince Friese had at first entered the wrong routing number, and Norway's Cornelius Tondel (now with Monster Energy Kawasaki) had not provided MX Sports Pro Racing with a U.S. bank for direct deposit. Both situations have now been rectified, according to Pauli himself.

Beta teammates Mitchell Oldenburg and Benny Bloss were also said to have not been paid, but when I spoke to Mitchell, he said it had been sorted a while back. When MX Sports Pro Racing's Kelly Kirby called Benny, he did not know what she was talking about.

Finally, Gavin Towers was mentioned in the podcast. Kelly told me that there was no sign of a problem, and he had not said or sent anything otherwise. I called him anyway and left a message but did not hear back yet.

MX Sports Pro Racing has been paying by direct deposit for more than a dozen years—80 riders per race, every two weeks during the season (though with Monster Energy Supercross now paying every week, that's something we will likely change next year). We've seen problems arise due to inaccurate routing numbers, foreign banks, lack of complete paperwork, etc. We always get to the bottom of any issue and get the riders/teams paid ASAP and will continue to do so moving forward. In the meantime, if any participant out there other than the ones listed here is having any sort of issue, please let Kelly know: Kelly@mxsports.com.

Glad it was cleared up in just 4 days.  I will only say, without the pitchfork crowd, would it have been only 4 days?  Glad all is well now. 

8
6
ohh_454
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7/24/2026 4:00pm

So is Keefer the conspiracy theorist? Lol

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1
CPR
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7/24/2026 4:02pm
DonM wrote:
This should clear it up for the pitchfork crowd......How the Riders Get Paid (DC)On Sunday afternoon, Kris Keefer, a longtime colleague and contributor to...

This should clear it up for the pitchfork crowd......

How the Riders Get Paid (DC)

On Sunday afternoon, Kris Keefer, a longtime colleague and contributor to this magazine and website, his wife Heather, and their son Aden, released a new episode of their PulpMX podcast, "Summer School." The entertaining podcast documents their family's journey through Aden's rookie summer in Pro Motocross, where he rides for the Phoenix Honda team. He has qualified for the 40-man 250 final six times so far but has yet to earn his first national point; he'll get there soon. Still, qualifying for those six races should have landed him some purse money, but as of their podcast recording on Sunday, Aden had yet to receive any purse money from MX Sports Pro Racing. Yes, it's MX Sports Pro Racing, not the AMA, that handles both entries and purse payouts in Pro Motocross, and that's where the confusion started for the Keefer family. They assumed that the AMA disburses the money, and repeated mentions were made of other riders in the paddock who they heard had not been paid either.

As soon as the podcast went live, people started posting online and on social media, questioning why no one had been paid for Pro Motocross all season long. Then the piling on started, especially in the darker corners of the internet and message forums. That's what happens when a podcast host says, "Dear AMA, when are these guys getting paid? Sincerely, the Keefers," and, "We're seven rounds in, people. Nobody has gotten paid!" And then again, "We gotta figure this out. But yeah: Dear AMA, please pay us. Sincerely, the riders."

Of course, my phone started ringing as people started asking how a series enjoying record turnouts could not even pay the riders.

Well, MX Sports Pro Racing is paying the riders, just like always. In fact, almost every rider has been paid like usual. Turns out a few riders—including Aden Keefer—have had issues submitting paperwork that would allow them to get paid. I looked into the Keefers' situation, and it turned out the family had not filled out the W-9 form for Aden that every rider getting paid must complete. MX Sports Pro Racing did not realize Aden had not been paid because the family thought they needed to talk to the AMA, not MX Sports Pro Racing. Needless to say, they now know, and Aden was paid for the six races he qualified for earlier this week.

There were a few other riders who we were told had somehow not been paid, so we called each one of them or their team managers. In the case of Bubba Pauli's ISRT Kawasaki team, Vince Friese had at first entered the wrong routing number, and Norway's Cornelius Tondel (now with Monster Energy Kawasaki) had not provided MX Sports Pro Racing with a U.S. bank for direct deposit. Both situations have now been rectified, according to Pauli himself.

Beta teammates Mitchell Oldenburg and Benny Bloss were also said to have not been paid, but when I spoke to Mitchell, he said it had been sorted a while back. When MX Sports Pro Racing's Kelly Kirby called Benny, he did not know what she was talking about.

Finally, Gavin Towers was mentioned in the podcast. Kelly told me that there was no sign of a problem, and he had not said or sent anything otherwise. I called him anyway and left a message but did not hear back yet.

MX Sports Pro Racing has been paying by direct deposit for more than a dozen years—80 riders per race, every two weeks during the season (though with Monster Energy Supercross now paying every week, that's something we will likely change next year). We've seen problems arise due to inaccurate routing numbers, foreign banks, lack of complete paperwork, etc. We always get to the bottom of any issue and get the riders/teams paid ASAP and will continue to do so moving forward. In the meantime, if any participant out there other than the ones listed here is having any sort of issue, please let Kelly know: Kelly@mxsports.com.

Is DC calling Vital a darker corner of internet and message forums? 😂

17
1
ohh_454
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Fantasy
7/24/2026 4:16pm
DonM wrote:
This should clear it up for the pitchfork crowd......How the Riders Get Paid (DC)On Sunday afternoon, Kris Keefer, a longtime colleague and contributor to...

This should clear it up for the pitchfork crowd......

How the Riders Get Paid (DC)

On Sunday afternoon, Kris Keefer, a longtime colleague and contributor to this magazine and website, his wife Heather, and their son Aden, released a new episode of their PulpMX podcast, "Summer School." The entertaining podcast documents their family's journey through Aden's rookie summer in Pro Motocross, where he rides for the Phoenix Honda team. He has qualified for the 40-man 250 final six times so far but has yet to earn his first national point; he'll get there soon. Still, qualifying for those six races should have landed him some purse money, but as of their podcast recording on Sunday, Aden had yet to receive any purse money from MX Sports Pro Racing. Yes, it's MX Sports Pro Racing, not the AMA, that handles both entries and purse payouts in Pro Motocross, and that's where the confusion started for the Keefer family. They assumed that the AMA disburses the money, and repeated mentions were made of other riders in the paddock who they heard had not been paid either.

As soon as the podcast went live, people started posting online and on social media, questioning why no one had been paid for Pro Motocross all season long. Then the piling on started, especially in the darker corners of the internet and message forums. That's what happens when a podcast host says, "Dear AMA, when are these guys getting paid? Sincerely, the Keefers," and, "We're seven rounds in, people. Nobody has gotten paid!" And then again, "We gotta figure this out. But yeah: Dear AMA, please pay us. Sincerely, the riders."

Of course, my phone started ringing as people started asking how a series enjoying record turnouts could not even pay the riders.

Well, MX Sports Pro Racing is paying the riders, just like always. In fact, almost every rider has been paid like usual. Turns out a few riders—including Aden Keefer—have had issues submitting paperwork that would allow them to get paid. I looked into the Keefers' situation, and it turned out the family had not filled out the W-9 form for Aden that every rider getting paid must complete. MX Sports Pro Racing did not realize Aden had not been paid because the family thought they needed to talk to the AMA, not MX Sports Pro Racing. Needless to say, they now know, and Aden was paid for the six races he qualified for earlier this week.

There were a few other riders who we were told had somehow not been paid, so we called each one of them or their team managers. In the case of Bubba Pauli's ISRT Kawasaki team, Vince Friese had at first entered the wrong routing number, and Norway's Cornelius Tondel (now with Monster Energy Kawasaki) had not provided MX Sports Pro Racing with a U.S. bank for direct deposit. Both situations have now been rectified, according to Pauli himself.

Beta teammates Mitchell Oldenburg and Benny Bloss were also said to have not been paid, but when I spoke to Mitchell, he said it had been sorted a while back. When MX Sports Pro Racing's Kelly Kirby called Benny, he did not know what she was talking about.

Finally, Gavin Towers was mentioned in the podcast. Kelly told me that there was no sign of a problem, and he had not said or sent anything otherwise. I called him anyway and left a message but did not hear back yet.

MX Sports Pro Racing has been paying by direct deposit for more than a dozen years—80 riders per race, every two weeks during the season (though with Monster Energy Supercross now paying every week, that's something we will likely change next year). We've seen problems arise due to inaccurate routing numbers, foreign banks, lack of complete paperwork, etc. We always get to the bottom of any issue and get the riders/teams paid ASAP and will continue to do so moving forward. In the meantime, if any participant out there other than the ones listed here is having any sort of issue, please let Kelly know: Kelly@mxsports.com.

CPR wrote:

Is DC calling Vital a darker corner of internet and message forums? 😂

I’m pretty sure he is, we live in a dark world here on vital 🤣🤣🤣🤣

4
7/24/2026 4:32pm

No, the AMA is not paying. 
They are programmed to receive. 

4
500 Mike
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7/24/2026 4:43pm

I agree, w/o the “pitchfork crowd” how long would this have gone on before MX Sports realized it.  Sounds like they need to have some more checks and balances within their organization.  Glad things got worked out for the riders.  

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Not hillbilly
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7/24/2026 5:02pm

Wow. Someone owes someone an apology. And someone owes someone (or multiple racers) some money. Or not? “I don’t know, man…”

Well now that Racerhead explained it all, and now that some rider that said he didn’t get paid has now been paid, I hope that someone apologized to someone…

To think that this whole thing was started by someone who didn’t complete their paperwork. Although the Oldenburg situation now seems mysterious… did that incident at the riders meeting never actually happen?

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MikeID
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7/24/2026 5:15pm Edited Date/Time 7/24/2026 5:24pm
umagumadog wrote:

No, the AMA is not paying. 
They are programmed to receive. 

I’ll check out any time I like.

5
7/24/2026 5:31pm
umagumadog wrote:

No, the AMA is not paying. 
They are programmed to receive. 

MikeID wrote:

I’ll check out any time I like.

But you can never leave 

7
7/24/2026 6:13pm Edited Date/Time 7/24/2026 6:24pm
Spurdo wrote:

Will the 5 man team of posters known as "Uptite" please give us some insider knowledge please. 

3 man team, and we don’t post much anymore because it just turns into an argument now.  But since YOU ask, I’ll tell you what we know. 

We know you absolutely cannot compete without first giving them a W-9, a valid ID, and a voided check so they can set up electronic deposit. 

So the narrativethat young Keefer doesn’t have the paperwork in is false. 

There were more than a few riders that haven’t been paid that we know of, one is a factory rider, he doesn’t really care, he just thinks it’s a joke. 

But to honest, this happens every year to some extent 

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Nate_Z
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7/24/2026 6:38pm

Looking forward to hearing the Keefer apology in this week's podcast episode lol!

3strokemx
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7/24/2026 6:53pm

Wow! I hope they atleast throw me a payout too since they took my conspiracy theory and published it as fact! Nearly verbatim!

Wild times we're living in

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8tensolutions
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7/24/2026 7:15pm
DonM wrote:
This should clear it up for the pitchfork crowd......How the Riders Get Paid (DC)On Sunday afternoon, Kris Keefer, a longtime colleague and contributor to...

This should clear it up for the pitchfork crowd......

How the Riders Get Paid (DC)

On Sunday afternoon, Kris Keefer, a longtime colleague and contributor to this magazine and website, his wife Heather, and their son Aden, released a new episode of their PulpMX podcast, "Summer School." The entertaining podcast documents their family's journey through Aden's rookie summer in Pro Motocross, where he rides for the Phoenix Honda team. He has qualified for the 40-man 250 final six times so far but has yet to earn his first national point; he'll get there soon. Still, qualifying for those six races should have landed him some purse money, but as of their podcast recording on Sunday, Aden had yet to receive any purse money from MX Sports Pro Racing. Yes, it's MX Sports Pro Racing, not the AMA, that handles both entries and purse payouts in Pro Motocross, and that's where the confusion started for the Keefer family. They assumed that the AMA disburses the money, and repeated mentions were made of other riders in the paddock who they heard had not been paid either.

As soon as the podcast went live, people started posting online and on social media, questioning why no one had been paid for Pro Motocross all season long. Then the piling on started, especially in the darker corners of the internet and message forums. That's what happens when a podcast host says, "Dear AMA, when are these guys getting paid? Sincerely, the Keefers," and, "We're seven rounds in, people. Nobody has gotten paid!" And then again, "We gotta figure this out. But yeah: Dear AMA, please pay us. Sincerely, the riders."

Of course, my phone started ringing as people started asking how a series enjoying record turnouts could not even pay the riders.

Well, MX Sports Pro Racing is paying the riders, just like always. In fact, almost every rider has been paid like usual. Turns out a few riders—including Aden Keefer—have had issues submitting paperwork that would allow them to get paid. I looked into the Keefers' situation, and it turned out the family had not filled out the W-9 form for Aden that every rider getting paid must complete. MX Sports Pro Racing did not realize Aden had not been paid because the family thought they needed to talk to the AMA, not MX Sports Pro Racing. Needless to say, they now know, and Aden was paid for the six races he qualified for earlier this week.

There were a few other riders who we were told had somehow not been paid, so we called each one of them or their team managers. In the case of Bubba Pauli's ISRT Kawasaki team, Vince Friese had at first entered the wrong routing number, and Norway's Cornelius Tondel (now with Monster Energy Kawasaki) had not provided MX Sports Pro Racing with a U.S. bank for direct deposit. Both situations have now been rectified, according to Pauli himself.

Beta teammates Mitchell Oldenburg and Benny Bloss were also said to have not been paid, but when I spoke to Mitchell, he said it had been sorted a while back. When MX Sports Pro Racing's Kelly Kirby called Benny, he did not know what she was talking about.

Finally, Gavin Towers was mentioned in the podcast. Kelly told me that there was no sign of a problem, and he had not said or sent anything otherwise. I called him anyway and left a message but did not hear back yet.

MX Sports Pro Racing has been paying by direct deposit for more than a dozen years—80 riders per race, every two weeks during the season (though with Monster Energy Supercross now paying every week, that's something we will likely change next year). We've seen problems arise due to inaccurate routing numbers, foreign banks, lack of complete paperwork, etc. We always get to the bottom of any issue and get the riders/teams paid ASAP and will continue to do so moving forward. In the meantime, if any participant out there other than the ones listed here is having any sort of issue, please let Kelly know: Kelly@mxsports.com.

Thanks for posting, but it won't clear it up.  They will be jumping in still blaming DC and citing greed, monopoly etc etc with the actual facts making zero difference

4
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8tensolutions
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7/24/2026 7:19pm
Spoonguy wrote:
Aden not having the proper paperwork is your assumption. Keefer stated two other riders who have been pros several years not getting paid, they haven't done...

Aden not having the proper paperwork is your assumption. Keefer stated two other riders who have been pros several years not getting paid, they haven't done the paperwork either? Why would Aden's parents mention him and others not getting paid if Aden didn't fill out the proper paperwork? Surely his parents would know that. And his sponsors for that matter. And no, if his paperwork isn't filled out to pay him, I think there would be legal issues to allow him to enter a professional event. The point of entering a pro event is to get paid to participate.

Surely his parents would know that.  His mom does nails and his Dad rode dirt bikes his whole life.  Great assumption they know what needs to...

Surely his parents would know that.  His mom does nails and his Dad rode dirt bikes his whole life.  Great assumption they know what needs to be submitted

Tyler D wrote:
his dad tests dirt bikes as an independent contractor you say? as a career? and writes about it? with words? on paper? 

his dad tests dirt bikes as an independent contractor you say? as a career? and writes about it? with words? on paper?

 

How did your assumption work out?  Turns out not only could he not complete the form, he couldn't even go to the right organization.  

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