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I didn't mention anything about money in my reply. It's not just about $$, though that is a part of it. The entire logistics is different; they are world's apart from what it took in 1985 and what it takes now. Rob went out and bought a used 125 and hustled over a few hundred kilometers for the chance of a lifetime. It's an awesome story, but in this day and age to be competitive at that event, testing needs to be done for suspension, dyno, fuel, etc. bikes need to be shipped (they are not going to ship just one bike across the world and have it break so the entire trip is a bust), team members need to be there.
The racing season ends in September, and that only gives our guys very little time for resting, doing testing, and getting over there before the event. Haiden can't just go out and buy a used YZF450, put in the back off truck and catch a ride on a Carnival Cruise to make the des Nations. This is where the Europeans have a huge advantage: No SMX, testing already done because it's a track they have ridden plenty of times, easier for teams and personnel to get to event, etc. Star decided against it. The Hunter brothers decided against it, and other teams and riders have decided against it. Tomac opted out in 2016 and Kawasaki said no in 2019, citing the same reasons Star is for not going.
Those are the facts, and despite that, USA sends a team almost every year as they should. But to think that Rob's story is in any way relevant or comparable to getting to the event today is laughable.
It's comparing apples to oranges.
Sure let’s get Infronts take also, ask them why a for profit event shouldn’t offer any support to the participants. Ask them if they feel its value added to have a US team there. This article is getting better and better. Come on moto media let’s make this happen!
lol, it’s ALL about money. That’s why your boy won’t go, he’s not getting paid
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100% shouldn't go and neither should anyone else without a pay check. Why is it lost on folks here that this is a for-profit event off which IF makes $$$$? Absent the US and Australia (exception Prado) this is just another GP with riders organized in teams.
Stop posting your bullshit.
What did Roczen 2023 do? He shipped some parts of his bike to Suzuki Johannes-bike in Germany, and together with his mechanic, they put together a bike—and then hopped in a van… to win. That’s was amazing!
1981 and 1982 Teams.
Well, I tried to put up the 2 pictures, but I'm having a bugger of at time with picture posting here, lately.😒
I can't recall if they were a week apart, or 2 weeks, and, I'm not sure if both races used All 4 riders - I'm getting old and doddery.
Advantage at that time - All Hondas. Through RD and Miller at MXA's efforts,
But, 2 seperate groups of bikes, and I'd be surprised if there wasn't at least a couple of spare bikes for each weekend.
And, Freight / Airfares were Not cheap in those days. Probably, by comparison, in real ( as in financial ) terms, More expensive than now.
Back off on the 'Hangers On', and, absolutely no assistance for a Family member(s) or Man Friends - that would be down to the riders / others there as official Team Members to fork out for.
I really can't fathom why there has not, it seems, been a donation scheme set up for the USA MXdN, through AMA, or, other ways. And, I can't understand why the base level of $1 per ticket from SX through the Outdoors season could be looked down upon. Cripes a fellow here said he'd bought 3 new bikes this year ( good on him - he's keeping money / sales flowing through the industry! ), but he seemed to resent a $1 addition to a ticket. If you'd go to Every SX and Outdoors, and the 3 SMXs, well, it would be less than a $30 contribution to Your USA Team - mind you, it would cost you a fair few Thousand to attend all of them! 😁
Or, an Organized , Official Appeal / Donations scheme.
I have No Problem with Any Rider who Doesn't Want To Go. They are Not slaves to the Sport, or we Followers of it.
And those that say that they will not be available, early on - Fair Enough.
But the BS of leaving it too close to the event, with indications you'd go prior to it, and then Not going, well, that's piss poor from anyone. Injuries, other real emergencies, accepted, of course.
I've always interpreted Samuel Johnson's 1775 statement : " Patriotism Is The Last Refuge Of Scoundrels' " to Not be a refutation of Patriotism, but a criticism of " Performative Patriotism " - displaying it for Cynical / BS reasons. Many of course, will instantly have conniptions over it, without taking in what I wrote in that previous sentence.
Did the facts give you a headache?
So what do you think riders from probably every southern hemisphere country do each year for MXdN?
Apples..Oranges?
Bullshit.
In the eighties when Rob took a stock 125 to the MXdN, the factory bikes on both sides of the pond were LEAGUES ahead of production bikes. Have you never seen the works Hondas or Kawasakis of that era?
The guy had the chance of a lifetime to represent his country and spent his own money for that honour. Its called national pride, and wanting to test yourself against the worlds best.
MX is an individual sport - you versus everyone else. The MXdN is different. It is selfless, the only team event of the year. It's about national pride and personal self esteem, not money. Kudos to those who demonstrate that sporting ethic and class.
And yes, the AMA should help with travel costs (not rider pay), ahead of sending a single AMA official.
What an absolute crock of shit. Riders can make anything happen if they want.
Seems to me like a good dose of humility would go long way here. Dozens of riders every year pack their suspension and riding gear into a kit bag, jump on a plane (that they most likely paid for) and go ride the MXdN.
Meanwhile the richest teams and riders in the world are complaining that it’s too expensive, they don’t get paid, and it’s not fair that someone else is making money. If they don’t want to go just say so, but any other excuse is just plain bullshit, and outright disrespectful to every other rider and country that just makes it happen.
Kay de Wolf interview with Gatedrop:
"One thing is certain. I'll fight for my country. I'll show up at 110% and fight for the flag".
Riders cannot make anything happen if they want. That's just more assertion without fact, which this thread is full of. Smaller team face much less constraints and logistics than larger teams do in terms of contracts, budgets, expenses, travel, bike testing, etc.
There are plenty of valid reasons why it's harder for the bigger teams to go, none of which are disrespectful to the smaller teams and riders. Do you think a rider like Benjamin Garib has more at stake career-wise than Haiden Deegan? It's a win/win for Benjamin to pack his bags and go to the race; it's the chance of a lifetime. A rider like Haiden Deegan has much more to consider when it comes to the race, such as injuries, testing, getting ready for the 2027 season. Your heroic bullshit about a rider making anything happen is what is disrespectful. It's not your career on the line with an injury. It's not your money that's paying for the travel, bikes, and all the other expenses. It's theirs and and that is why it is their choice. If you don't like their reasons, just say so. But stop being disrespectful to these teams and riders with your bullshit excuses.
In your logic,none of the current AMA factory riders should race the mxdn!
So if Deegan says to Star when he signs his contract that MXdN is important to me and I want to go that they say no?
If Deegan or any other top rider want to go they will. One thing not holding them back is money.
And stop with the risk crap. If there were four SMX playoffs they’d be there, same risk of injury. That risk is always there.
Only if you hit people who call it M X ‘on’ with your cane before you correct them. Totally acceptable then.
Pit Row
if the factory says no that means you dont go.. Its not that hard to figure out ..Riders cant make things happen like people think they can
Yo, they could cop out if they felt like dat shit, put dat shit in writin' if they wanted ta. If Star says they ain't goin', dat shitz unclear if Haiden can even roll, even if dudez tryin' ta. Don't know tha deets on dem contracts, N' therez Ain't nuthin' but yo''re just spinnin' tales, homie, while i'm keepin' dat shit real.
I'll humor you tho, n' say if Star says they ain't sendin' a team or bike, Deegan can just shell out da cash on his own dirty ass. Then dude gotta put togetha a team, git bikes, mechanic, support, schedule travel, hotels, all dat jazz, or pay someone else ta do dat shit. Yo' think Deeganz gonna put in dat kinda work just ta git ta a race? yo' haters always findin' ways ta diss haiden, paintin' his ass in a shizzle light.
As fo' da risk, dat shitz there, n' if yo' can't peep da difference between a one-off race dat pays nothang n' a race dat pays 500k, then yo' don't understand da risk versus reward factor. Da entire point be dat a lot o' different factors goes da fuck into dem races -- risk, money, travel, schedules, n' otha logistics -- so fo' yo' ta pigeonhole da teams n' riders just shows ignorance fo' da efforts dat dem teams, staff n' riders put in ta be successful.
Now you are catching on. I agree, they shouldn't, but they still do, and when they do it's a bonus for us fans. But you shouldn't get upset if riders or teams opt out since they have good reasons for doing so.
I don't like the reasons. They're bullshit. Donger is just a massive phoney who couldn't give two shits about representing the US. As for Star, they would go if Donger wanted to.
Of course they'd go to the extra SMX round. There are literally huge piles of money up for grabs. That's the entire point of the conversation.
Kinda like our military, they are asked to go overseas and do a dangerous job that could end their career or their life. Oh but they still go so we can sleep at night! Not just for pride
They went with Webb, they went with Martin, they went with Tomac. That is enough proof. The team is protecting golden boy. The saddest part is that the US media is throwing themselves in front of Deegan like a bodyguard in front of the president in some sort of B-Movie... The sh¡t you read coming from the biggest names in US MX journalism, it's one big laughing stock.
You literally get paid more money in the military to go overseas or dangerous war zones. What's your point?
Not making millions and they sign up for it. My point is its funny to beat the patriot drum then say no im not getting paid. And they dont get paid alot more.
Theres nothing wrong with deegan not wanting to go. Thats perfectly fine and his choice to make.
The part thats lame is him pretending he wants to go, when he doesnt, every single year in order to get ppl all excited for the possibility that were going to send a good team. Then after the whole entire year goes by with him teasing that hes going, riiiiiight at the deadline and right on cue -he pulls out, finds an excuse, or has someone else cover for him. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Its not most times, a lot of times, many times, its every single freaking year since hes turned pro he pulls the same exact stunt. And the bed bugs believe this years bullshit story every time LOL.
Thats the part thats a dbag move.
In it just for the money, but doesn’t want people to think it’s just for the money.
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