It's not tough at all! It's a _sweet_ life! Swanning around the world from racetrack to fashion opening with barely a few weeks in between to spend cavorting on your yacht in San Marino with your super model girlfriend - it's hard work at times, but it's _far_ from tough!nomonster said:Does anyone know how tough it is to be sponsored and all that jazz to ride and race for a living??
when it comes to "starting young", 16-18 is not "kids" territory. duhamel, spies, etc started racing <8yo.DanTheMan said:A lot of the really fast guys have been riding and or racing since they were very young. A lot of the fast guys in our local racing org are kids or they have been racing since their were kids, (16,17 18 yrs old) Look at Moto Gp, the 125, 250 riders are majority less than 20 and i think pedrosa is only 20.
[thumbsup]DanTheMan said:i knew you would stop by and correct me...
i ment they are 16, 17, 18 now, but they been at is since 4,5,6 yrs old
derby said:when it comes to "starting young", 16-18 is not "kids" territory. duhamel, spies, Coastie's boys, etc started racing <8yo.
If you want to make a living doing this then you better be about 18 years old. You can get some sponsors, but until you are on a factory team or a factory supported team, you aren't making enough money to live off of (there are of course a notable FEW exceptions). If you're 35 no team is going to hire you, it's just not a good investment. And, even if you're winning your sponsors are only providing oil, bodywork, brakes, etc. and a few contingency dollars, nothing special. You'll still be paying for your bikes, leathers, possibly tires (depending on what brand you wanna race). In other words, it's very dificult racket and very few have the talent and the motivation and marketability in order to be successful....joydivision said:I agree with the "win" comment. Even if you're 35 years old and overweight, but manage to win every single race you enter, I'm sure someone somewhere will take notice.
I think that goes for all professional sports. No one cares who you are or where you're from--if you can throw 95 miles an hour, you'll find a job.
So git winnin' boy.
[thumbsup]gm2 said:take a look at danny eslick. seems like he just popped up but he's been at this for many years. or josh herrin... 16 yrs old, out there giving the veterans a run for their money. and he just got a factory ride. jeesh.
also you have to think like this: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2006/Oct/061019b.htm
sconly said:you need to be fast and you need to have a **** load of income ie; need to be able to afford several bikes, parts for both bikes, a tech to work on them because as a racer the last thing you want to do is worry about your bike when you come in from practice or qualafying and have to work on your own bike and then go back out for another session plus its hard to do your own work when you have to run around to racers meetings and such. traveling with all of this equipment isnt cheap either. tires will run you inexcess of $400+ per race (unless you doing eight lap sprint races which aint **** if you want to go pro) the list goes on but good luck.
