What happened to the Pros?
Written by Adrian Sunday, 25 April 2010 22:44
Recently, there has been some talk on forums and other sites about Pro-payout in Oklahoma and what happened to seeing the gate full of pros. Is it because bikes are more expensive, the bad economy, or is it just not realistic to race pro at a local level and pay the bills? Here is an email I recieved from a concerned track owner about the future of MX in Oklahoma.
"Hey, track promoters. It is time to get real, and pay our pros some real money. Let us say, 30% of the gross gate and amateur entries plus the pro's entry fees. Now that is good money. Funny how the AMA does not pay out appropriately, never did. I remember the LA Coliseum loaded with fans, close to 72k screaming fans. Yes sir, plenty of folks enjoying the show, and the gang putting on the show received 1500.00 bucks for 1st place that year. The Overall payout in the 250 pro main events. The fastest 250 pro's of the night, twenty, to be exact.
Wow, 1500.00 bucks for 1st place. Not much has change to date, well corporate sponsors, the AMA running off with most or all of the gross gate money, not to mention, concessions sales, T-Shirts, with the biggest names on TV today in the motocross world. Therefore, it is time to set a new example and pay out the way it should be. Why not???? Promoters taking in gate and entry fees for over 300 riders plus the gate fees based on 2.5 spectators per vehicle, now that would be fare. If someone does not do so, there will not be much reason to race and become a pro. Think about it. Why in the hell would anybody, who is supporting his or her son or daughter, want to spend 6k on a new race bike and chase down a dream that is not real anymore. What is the point? They do not, local track promoters will not have any more racers’s either. It is happening now right in front of your tracks."
This email was also posted in forums and has stired up a bit of controversy. There seems to be an agreement that Pro entries have dropped over the years but why are they not showing up? Would paying out more money in the Pro class attract a bigger crowd and is it realistic for a track to be able to afford it? I don't have the answer to that question as I haven't owned a track but there does seem to be tracks in other states that do have a bigger payout. Is it because the sport is more popular in those states so they have more money to work with or is it because they have a bigger payout that attracts more riders and fans?
Here is an attendance and rider breakdown with a Pro-payout based on 30% of gross gate and amatuer entries.
In the end what everyone one really wants is for the sport to continue to grow in our state. For more Pros to have the ability to race locally and make a living. And for amatuers to see that their is a future for them to race and make a living even if they never win a national championship. I think that having an open discussion about our sport and sharing suggestions we can make the state a better place for MX.
Please, post your thoughts and comments below.
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