10/2/2017 7:27 AM
Edited Date/Time: 10/2/2017 7:30 AM
What I don't understand is why these top tier guys don't negotiate this into their contract.
For instance.. I get paid XX dollars a year to race XX brand at all SX and MX races (with language included for the bonus structure) for XX seasons.
In addition to the above, I will agree to race the MXDN (also include any other off season race here) if I am selected and as compensation be provided my full race bike, I will receive XX dollars as compensation, and have all travel related costs covered. If the brand/sponsors you ride for don't agree to this and you do get selected you can then push it back to your Sponsor by saying I offered to include this race into my contract and was told no. I don't expect these guys to race for free. They aren't military. They don't have any obligation to defend USA. They are athletes paid to do a job. If they aren't paid, they shouldn't go. Simple. I don't work for free. I doubt any on here would as well.
Another thing I will never understand is why the top tier guys don't stipulate that all air travel will be first class whenever possible. It floors me when I hear that Matthes watches Tomac pass by him on his way to coach seats. Guys like him (and many others) spend hours training their ass off daily, 100s of thousands of dollars on practice tracks, trainers, heavy equipment, etc... But somehow won't spend a few hundred more dollars for a first class ticket. I fly weekly for work and the difference from coach to first class on Delta is rarely more than $200-$300. Even I pay for the upgrade.
And while I am on my rant I will never understand why these guys take the very first flight out the next morning after a race or even worse, the red eye. Why aren't their trainers intervening and saying you have to rest and recover? There is only about a billion studies out there saying that rest is one of the most important components of recovery.
