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2/1/2010
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US
Edited Date/Time
1/27/2012 7:32pm
http://www.mxlarge.com/interview/4067-pit-beirer-interview-bring-on-ame…
In the World Motocross Championship we have a lot of riders who make good money, but in America it is like the top riders make really good money, but the next level don’t make hardly any money. I would say the top five guys are making money in America.
In the World Motocross Championship we have a lot of riders who make good money, but in America it is like the top riders make really good money, but the next level don’t make hardly any money. I would say the top five guys are making money in America.
Not only are we forced to ride the overly priced 4 strokes to stay competitive ( which i'm in that group ) everyone from the sanctioning bodies to sponsors can't shell out enough money for a racer to make a living.
Just compare MX to what nascar drivers get.....it's crazy. God damn 35th place is a God Damn millionaire!
The Shop
How much money does the 21st ranked american pro tennis, cyclist, iron man, surfer, ski/snowboarder, mountain biker make.
My guess is that they don't make a lot either but if they can improve by a few small %, then its pay day.
The other sports all have, for want of a better word, "unions" that get them what they need; insurance, higher pay, etc....
If mx and sx want more coin, they are going to have to put their heads together and claim some of that gate money from the promoters!
I don't have a real problem with the different models used here and there. It seems pretty clear that Youthstream has shifted more financial risk to other parties.
Pit Row
Plus in this economy, many are riding for less than that!!
I remember the Minister who did SXPrayer sessions at races for the pros years ago. I'll para phase what he said.
" You guys thing you have it made, and make some money to get to the next race. The chances of you making a million dollars is not likely. My son has a better chance of being a 3rd string professional NFL quarterback then you making it big and making a lot of money in SX.! Quarterbacks in the NFL all make 500K or more and they have like 70 quarterbacks! The point I am trying to make guys is be humble and ride safe. Remember, there is another life outside this stadium tonight!."
His point that I remembered was that stick and ball players make a lot more money. The chances of being a NFL football player making money is MUCH BETTER then any Pro MX rider making big money (big money is like 500K or more a year) . I think every football player makes (NFL anyhow) a minimum of 340,000 a year. I don't follow football, but what is their like 32 teams and they have like 80 players. Do the math. Odds are better to make it there than in MX.
I said my 2 cents worth!!!
No, I do not think that is great money for racing. For 16 year old who lives with mom and dad yes, but for a 23 year old on his own, no!!! The point in comparing the sports>everyone likes to compare J7S and TWO TWO to the other sports top figures, so lets compare 20th place to other 20th place sport figures.
Didn't James Eickle, or someone from Ohio try to start one and was basically blackballed during the 90's?
In any of those sports, I would think that the "21st ranked" competitor isn't making huge bank. If you look at professional MTB racing, the guys doing the contests/videos/demo's are making more than the guys that are primarily racing. Bottom line though, is that they have figured out that racing is not the key to survival, but rather doing these other types of events and marketing themselves (i.e., video appearances) to gain endorsement deals lets them do what they love for a living.
All of these are sports in which a very select few actually ever make millions. Most of the guys (and gals) are scraping by, but they are doing something they love and are enjoying their lives. To me, you can't hang a dollar value on that type of passion or willingness to live life.
Jeez.
That said, here is an article about what the MotoGP boys make, which is only slightly more relevant.
http://www.gpone.com/...i-piloti-motogp.html
in digesting this info, it is important to take into account the amount of people watching the races in Europe on a regular basis, which is huge - almost to Nascar levels.
Most of the money in MX and SX as it pertains to rider salary's STILL comes from the very generous OEM's. With the OEM's sales being off by well over 50% from the 2006/7 highs, it is easy to understand why salaries have been dropping. Until companies come in and contract direct with riders for big numbers (like Dungey with Target), OEM's will hold the cards and control who makes good money. I think everyone in the sport is working towards growing this, but it takes time and lots of work.
Money will only get better as exposure grows (as it is). Problem is not so much the odds of making money, but the odds of being fast, safe, tough, smart, etc.. all wrapped up into what makes a champion are what is low.
A lot of MX fan's want to keep the sport "core," and then in the same breath bitch about the amount of money the 15th place rider recieves. Half of the people on this thread bitch and complain about changes that professional mx and sx have made the last couple years, just for example Saturday Nationals. In order to grow this sport to the point where everyone that qualifies to race is bringing home some type of salary the sport needs to go mainstram.
A choice needs to be made, keep the sport "core" and poor, or mainsteam for money.
On another note every single pro that lines up on the gate knows about how much they will get paid for their finish. They choose to do it and go ahead and race. Families dedicate their lives to try and make junior a rich champion knowing that very few people in this sport make it big time.
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