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the only way things would change is through a riders union, round tables with promoters and OEM reps, demands for change in some of the costs (high cost of license + credentials for pro riders and team members), demand for an increase in prize money.
For that you need a unified rider union. I don't see it happen. There will always be some benefiting in not following what most want.
Some will think an SX track is safe despite poor lighting and race while others will believe it's too dangerous and refuse to race. We've seen that in RR in the US, we've seen that in the past in FIM MX.
SH
But some good ideas
there is just to big of a spread between the guy's making money and the ones borrowing money to try and make it.
Take for example how many riders chose to ride for basically free or incentives only this year. If the riders had an organization with some power like lets say the AMA you know Protecting riders rights they could make it very much different and better.
In all honesty , I don't see how you could even really survive today, in this sport even if they paid you $1k for making the main and finishing last. It's only 17 races. Even if everything else was paid, and a rider didn't need to spend a penny to eat, travel, or worry about anything race related, you still could do better working par time at Home Depot, and have benefits!
I'm not discrediting your question by any means, because I completely agree that those riders, and their families who dedicated their lives to a non stick and ball sport, have a completely unfair disadvantage for loving and participating in a sport that is "non conventional" in America. You can not even make it pro, and get a free education to set you up with a career if you play, Lacrosse, for arguments sake.
I know I'll get slammed for this, but we need a "league". We need an organization that on a pro level gets these guys paid reasonably for being the best in the world at what they do.
I agree prize money should be increased, but I don't see how that will be a viable solution on the pro level. AM, yes. Pro, no. The prize money should just be an addition to the real income you make.
SH
SH
Pit Row
But theres a ton more $$ in Cup racing, they're not scrapping for $400 for last place!!
Maybe it will get better when the factory team agendas go away.
Also, don't discount that the FMX guys also have leverage of creating other options for themselves. Motocross and Supercross riders really don't nearly so much.
or all the racers everyone of them stand as one and that is JS,CR,KW,DM etc
all the way down to #999 joe racer just wants to be in the show.
what needs to be setup is a union that is the only way to start the
CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN the riders have to start standing together.
A1 is the best place to do it no one races until the conditons are meet this should
have been started 35 yrs ago. other sports have players union why not this sport?
and it should be for MX,SX and AX all the same the ama should have nothing to
do with it in any way shape or form. the union should be just like any other union
health care plan, retirement plan and a rider recovery plan.
the union i was once a part of has a program if a member gets hurt house burns down
what ever they pass a hat around and everyone chips in what they can.
the guys who can really make a diffrence are the top guys JS,CR,RV,AS,KW,TF,JT$,SH105,GL,JLAW,TH,WH,MD,ML,IZZI,DW,RD,CP,JW and on and on.
but we all know they will not stand toghether and stand as one.
there needs to be a voice for the riders one with
BIG BALLS BOB HANNAH has a voice that people listen to and he has the BIG BALLS.
blah blah blah we can bitch and grip about this all day nite and for ever but until the step
is taken it wont help.i have an idea someone who is going to A1 that can get in the pits
and talk to the riders do a poll about if such a rider would stand up for a union.
if you could get JS and CR in and willing to take the stand to start on the road to the
NORTH AMERICAN OFFROAD MOTORCYCLE RACERS UNION or what the heck ever
they want to call it that is step one in the right direction.
I think that most top riders don't even give a second thought to the purse, so getting them to do something about it might be problematic. What needs addressed is how to help the struggling privateers. Also, there needs to be an available primary health insurance, a fund for injured riders, ... Lots to be fixed. I've always said that riders should be able to sell their merchandise at the races. The list goes on. I really don't think that your average racer (not privateers) is thinking at all about these issues. They are busy trying to win and secure their careers.
If riders went on strike, it would be people's jobs at risk--not even including the riders. Sort of like a UAW strike right now, bad bad timing. The risk is high, and I think most riders just don't think about the problems. I really think change should start from someone not involved in racing any more (no risk of causing problems for themselves) but who has a lot of respect and pull in the industry. And yes, every rider, should eventually be involved. Just my two cents.
I think its true of any pastime that people would rather do than working a "normal" job. People will do it for free, meaning you have to be independently wealthy to pay for it yourself or have sponsors out the wazzoo.
Aren't outside sponsors free to come up with their own financial awards, like the Monster Energy triple crown of the Wonder Warthog deal? In other words you don't have to go through the promoter to get money in the riders' pocket.
I did some basic math based on what is known. Gate fees, estimated cost of labor even with unions, arena rental, transportation and track building, insurances and marketing. I figured Feld walks away with a few hundred grand per night. When you span that over the year, it really isn't that great. Its not loosing money but there are better ways to make it for sure.
In NASCAR, the teams pay a few thousand in entry fees for each race. The purse they get back is made up of 25% of the revenue from the television networks (opposite of MX, TV networks pay to air NASCAR races) and endemic sponsors that you see on the front fenders of the cars. If you finish towards the back of the pack, you might earn enough to cover your tire bill for that race.
Post a reply to: Why doesn't anyone ever ask a series Sponsor to put money into the prize fund ?