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9/8/2013 5:36am
9/8/2013 5:36am
Edited Date/Time
9/12/2013 2:25pm
So after reading about Christian Craig's retirement and how hard it is for riders outside the top 10 to make a decent living, its got me thinking what can we do to make a change? If you can qualify for a national, you should get payed enough not to struggle and make actually make a comfortable living out of racing, otherwise we will continue to lose riders like Christian. Sure we need better television coverage, more sponsors and the rest of that stuff. But as the fans, we are ultimately in control, no fans means no money. So what can we do to make a change? I sure as hell don't know, but we can't sit around and watch the sport fall apart, come on Vitards! it's up to us, we've been waiting for change for too long and nothing has happened! Viva la revolution!
The Shop
You can't expect people to pay for somebody else's hobby.
The difference is, a very small percentage of a percentage has ever swung a leg over a motocross bike. As a result, they have no idea what is going on or how difficult it is. When someone watches Miguel Cabrera launch a home run, they are in awe because they have probably played baseball before and know how hard it is to hit a home run. When they watch lebron dunk, they have played basketball before and know how high the rim is and what a feat it is to jump that high and dunk. When they watch clint bowyer drive 200 mph with a pack of cars inches away, they have driven a car at 80 mph on the freeway and realize how crazy it is to go over double that. But what do they see when they watch rv, dungey, Stewart, etc launch a triple or blitz the whoops? TV doesn't do justice for these feats and honestly doesn't come off as that impressive on a television broadcast, so people can't relate to it and, in my opinion, aren't drawn to watch it.
I think that is why the majority of people who watch the races are all either riders or people that have at least ridden before because they can appreciate how difficult, dangerous and just badass motocross is. And let's face it, motocross isn't exactly the easiest or most feasible of sports to break into. Honestly, to even figure out if you even like it or not takes a realistic investment of AT LEAST a couple grand. Take into account that a baseball glove, bat and cleats will set you back a few hundred. A basketball can be bought for $20. And all these sports can be played everyday, anywhere and for zero extra money. That is certainly not the case for loading up a bike, driving to the track that is probably not that close, buying fuel, fixing broken parts, etc. Look, we all love mx and don't see these things as huge obstacles because we are probably going to find a way to do so. But to an outsider, it may not seem worth it.
Sorry that's so long winded.
I for one don't care...The money issues are based on the economy of the country, and the sport as a whole. Both aren't good.
AND IT WILL NEVER, EVER, EVER, BE AS GOOD AS IT WAS IN THE '02-'06 TIME FRAME BEFORE THE ECONOMY CRASHED
Trying to save the sport through a message board won't happen. People like DC are actively saving MX...And SX has NEVER been more popular commercially.
look at AMA roadracing...once bigger than MX/SX in this country...they're grand finale at laguna seca isn't even going to be on TV....
And we're pissed because we don't have 100% live streaming of MX!
People just don't appreciate how difficult motocross is unless they've done it. As you said, it looks easy on tv.
Hockey has the same problem. The sport is totally different live. The speed of the game just doesn't come thru on tv.
Same with mx.
Tv doesn't seem to capture the true size of the jumps and the brutality of sport.
Do you NOT see all the people at supercross?! No way all of those people are "riders"...i think the HUGE crowd draw to SX are the same people filling monster trucks etc.
I really don't think Supercross has been this popular, primetime TV, they even had that tool from some '80s hair band do a song, and that guy is front row to all the reality TV melt down. You think he wasn't pimping SX to complete non motorcycle people?
SX is growing, look at the revenues....
Sadly, AMA road racing is dead.
It's all about TV. When millions all over the world will tune into MX on major networks then the riders will make more, but don't hold your breath
Because guys at the nationals make money from sponsors and outside endorsers...
Not purses.
Pit Row
But damn, the 30 second board used to be held by some guy...did anyone know his name that wasn't big into SX?
Nope.
Everyone now wants to rail the person holding the 30 second board. And she's not getting paid peanuts to be there...
http://www.cyclenews.com/536/21568/Racing-Article/Rekluse-Posts-Over--1…
ball sports = big $.
cheaper for youngsters to get started,school backed,ample areas to practice such sports.scholorships also
even cycling and bowling have $ issues .they have school support as well.so then you look at spectator visibility....
confused yet? golf...
It's on a par with BMX , shifter cart racing or downhill MTB etc - NOT with Nascar, MotoGP, or any form of ball sport.
We all care about it but the vast majority of people see it as a bunch of dumbass rednecks tearing about in the dirt. There has never been much money in it - I've been in it since the early '70's - and never will be.
Get over that and enjoy it for what it is.
Doesn't take long for "welfare" to enter the conversation in these threads
Nobody is saying 10-30 at the nationals are expecting big time money. But the fact that they make as little as they do is a complete joke. Just ask some of them
The promoters and Mx Sports could certainly do a little more but they never will. Why? They don't have to
That said riders getting decent results could market themselves better and find some sponsorship $$ outside of the sport imo.
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