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All I'm saying is we're 1 cryptic RV tweet/post away from a full on final farewell tour from them all! Hell even KISS is in their 3rd final farewell tour....the stars are aligning.
You're welcome.
The Shop
Ktm was very pissed off with him leaving, despite the official "thank you for the years".
With Ryan's heavy involvement, maybe more than expected, I think they finally chose to activate that clause.
It could also be a breach of contract from Honda's side meaning lack of exposing certain things during the due diligence Honda went under from RD and his team that made RD pull his investment.
If it was feelings and situational/social reason, they would have chosen a soft and quiet exit over a longer time.
Didn't he quit/retire early after his Supercross championship? I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure KTM wanted him to race Motocross and complete the race season that was in his contract.
It’s hard to believe RD would join Geico if he signed something that would possibly put him in that position, unless he’s either a bone head or was confident KTM wouldn’t enforce it.
I wouldn’t blame KTM if it’s the case though.
Who knows.. Kind of a shit show
According to contract the first scenario might have been legally fine, but the second not.
If it is not a contract non-compete situation. Ktm has a lot to win by going out and saying "hey, we did not pull a non-compete" since if they did it might, for some, look a bit defensive and not so modern. Could cost them some brand cred.
I have no problem with if they did, KTM invested a lot in building up RD brand and non-compete is then covered by the pay check RD got out of it.
More reasonable, is that KTM had "first right of refusal" on the role this developed to.
Just speculating:
Ktm offered and wanted dungey to be more involved (we know this), dungey said no. He persue another track that meant less work and passive role. That is fine since first right of refusal bis for the role of being passive owner and a little bit involved (ktm did not want to, or could not offer that).
But, when the role at Honda in fact developed to what KTM offered Dungey and wanted him to do, first right of refusal kicks in.
That could be why it took some time before ktm saw how the role developed.
The other likely scenario as I wrote, could be breach of contract from Hondas side. They did not come to disclose vital information during due diligence, and that would reverse the complete deal.
Occam's razor says the simplest explanation is the most parsimonious.
He trialled Geico and it didn't gel.
Specially not without a cost.
The due diligence going into the investment also costs a bit and time invested for everyone to pull a deal through (meetings with Geico for example getting their blessing).
And for Honda, the owners and team it is not positive an investor and front figure pull out that quick.
Ryan just pulling out because he changed his mind will also hurt him and his brand. Who wants to go into cooperations, investments, partnerships with a guy that can pull out next week? Makes RD unfortunately look like an amateur in that context.
It is not like buying a TV and trying out, to then return it the next day and get your money back because you did not like it...
You do realize, this is Vital? We don't tolerate that "logical, sensible & perhaps factual" stuff around here!
Pit Row
If it was RD choice, you leave it and just accept it is part of your life story since everybody already know it has happened.
RD has always been a stand up guy, doing the right thing.
Now suddenly he dumps a team, break up a contract and partnerships, pulls out as an investor, goes and delete old social media posts and removes all videos, will all negativity it that comes with that?
Absolutely sound like something he would do voluntary...
If you don't like it for whatever reason after doing your due diligence you can get out without obligation.
I think this fits in well with the time frame for that process.
Simple.
This is grown ups world. Not Walmart where you buy and try, then leave stuff back if you did not feel like it was your thing.
What do you think Geico thinks about running a serious line of promotion for a world class athlete, that after a month pulls out because it was "not his thing"?
In a professional world, this is not viewed lightly. Who wants to invest with or in someone that changes his mind after a couple of weeks? Next thing RD does, everyone involved will ask themselves if he is gonna pull out if he feel it is not his thing. You think that is somet you want on your CV or as a reputation?
He could have done a soft exit without all the negativity that now comes.
They would not have gone so hard at the promotion if it did allow sudden exits. Do you think this looks good for any of the sponsors, teams, riders, share holders, that a world class athlete dumps them after a few weeks?
There is likely in time and effort during due diligence a few 100k invested. Lawyers and accountants, possible PE firm to broker and arrange valuations, agreements, PR, promotion videos, bikes, parts etc.
You don't put everyone through this, with the bad optics is provides, unless there is caused to believe contractual breach in one end or another.
That is, If they maintain the story about it being "to much work" as the exit reason.
Dungey is a stand up guy, there is so many options to end this softly if that was the true reason.
If I where Geico, I would be plenty upset about the shit show to team they sponsor. Looks like kinder garden.
It is all speculation, but no doubt it is an epic failure no one wants to have on the CV if they can avoid it.
Dungey's accountant found a tax liability or the lawyer found a glitch so Ryan pulled the plug.
Simple explanations are the most likely.
His brand was already pretty dubious in my book. He let his many fans, KTM etc and the sport down big time by retiring years early.
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