The amateur issue is a big one.
I've lost a few amateur national champions - or podium level riders to the fact this sport costs so much and pays so little once you "make it"
One of my guys - zane merrett, just recently podiumed mini 0's with some holeshots and a moto win, fastest lap in a moto as well in the pro/a classes
The cost of being competitive this year is mind blowing - and we aren't even doing it close to how we need to - his "good" race motor threw a rod at 42 hours (waaaay too many hours for usage and build - but money doesn't grow on trees) so he raced on his "not as good" race bike which still has a factory transmission, big bucks in the head and GET ECU, tons of R&D, kit suspension, etc.
Keeping the kid riding all year is about a 6 bike ordeal at minimum - and when he went pro his dad realized he couldn't keep riding practice on a stocker - which has escalated prices big time.
If you dont do it - you will be "up there" but never "there" which is what it takes to nab a factory spot.
Hopefully his showing will put him in discussion for a ride - which sucks for me! But it's what has to happen within the year or he too will likely quit or be "just on the outside" because competing at the real pro level vs a factory team wold cost you around 250k-300k a year to do it to their level for one rider if paying for all parts, mechanic, travel, suspension testing time, engine testing time, bikes, entries, fuel etc.
Once a team can have 4-5 guys a lot of the cost goes down per guy... but for just one you still need huge effort -
Doing 6 well done bikes - suspension, and maintenance plus training and riding every week, plus race schedule - they are well past 100k a year "on a budget" for am stuff.
And the "deals" all these people say they get - and "rides" they get - are mostly total BS. If the kid isn't under the factory tent - they dont usually get a damn thing but a discount on bikes from a dealer who is not getting help from the OEM - and just doing it out of goodness from their heart.
If you were an OEM - why give it away - they are going racing either way - and ARE your money making customers...
The saddest thing is there IS a claim rule in amateurs - but no one dares to do it. If you claimed a PC or geico pro bike - and were the first privateer so to speak behind those guys - you'd never get a ride from any of them...
I'd love to claim the geico 150r - be like 10k for that thing! Hang it up in the shop
But good luck showing your face in the industry after that.