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8/1/2017 9:00am
8/1/2017 9:00am
Edited Date/Time
8/1/2017 1:04pm
After winning the first Open Pro Sport moto of Loretta Lynn's, Justin Cooper announced that he has signed with Star Racing Yamaha. He'll be racing the final three rounds of MX and the USGP.
The Shop
I know signing a pro contract is a big deal but jumping at the first opportunity might not be in their best interest. Sure the pressure is off for the rest of the week knowing you already have a pro contract but whose to say that's the best offer you would of gotten.
In his case he did his podium speech after his moto win, walked off the stage to sign a contract and came back on stage to announce it all within 5 minutes. Pro contracts are more than 1 page long so pretty sure he didn't read much if any of it. Was probably told here's a 3 year contract and you're going to get X amount a year, sign here, initial here.
Not the smartest thing to do in my opinion.
I agree with part of your thinking...
But lets say he doesn't sign the contract, and then goes out in the second moto and breaks his femur. How many contract offers do you think will be coming for him then?
As mom used to say, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
He's got his first contract. If he excels there will be plenty of suitors for his next one.
I get that LL is the biggest amateur race of the year but I don't get why teams wait to see how some riders perform at this specific event before approaching them with a contract. As you said they could get injured while at LL. If riders have done well at other big amateur events and beat some of the biggest names coming up on different types of tracks why is waiting for LL such a big deal for the teams to sign someone? The top amateurs pretty much attend all the big amateur events so why so much emphasis on this event?
Sure you have to qualify to race at LL but the top amateurs will still be the ones upfront and the ones at the back of the pack will be a non factor for them just like any other event.
On second thought I guess they already do that since I believe Carson Mumford already has a long term deal with the Geico Honda team that will see him make his pro debut on that team whenever the time comes.
I just think there's a lot of emphasis to do good at that specific race when it shouldn't really matter if you're a top amateur. Whether you beat the top guys at the other big amateur events or at LL what's the difference.
Pit Row
It's theatrics and marketing. It's a huge gathering and everyone wants to make a splash in front of the largest crowd possible.
Think of it like Boeing and Airbus. They sell airplanes all the time, but before certain air shows/trade events they stop announcing orders so that they can do it in front of large crowds. Very similar to waiting until Loretta's to announce your amateur recruits that you've actually already wrapped up a while ago.
Hopefully the transition to the pro class goes well for everyone that signs a pro contract this week especially since supercross will be here before we know it. Get through SX healthy and then turn things up a notch outdoors.
you watch those timings all week, you'll see it for yourself.
Yamaha not letting him go.
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