First, I'd like to take the time that individuals too to answer my two poll questions.
The results are probably not particularly scientific, but I don't have all of my old statistical analysis info here. Regardless, the spread between the yes and no answers was pretty large that I think it might be reasonably representative of some of the population on this board.
Question 1
Would you like to make a living racing?
This was an open ended question. You can put ideas into it all you want. Making a living racing can be a lot of things. You can make money as the rider from purse money and contingency money, like Larry Denning and Robbie Jensen, or you can make money from contracts, like Mat Mladin, Valentino Rossi, and others further down the line.
Additionally, you can make money racing as part of the program. Rich Alexander was a very good rider, but now he sets stuff up for Jason Pridmore and does some riding for him at Jason's school. There is a whole industry of racing out there that is available.
Don't think you're racing when you're not on the bike? Work on an AMA team and stand on the podium. The rider is apt to remind you that without your help, those things don't happen.
Additionally, there is the though that you must be the fastest to get these contracted rides. Politics and money are a part of racing just like it is in the real world. Would you like to race for a particular team? Sometimes, it can be a matter of coming up with the big money to get the opportunity to have decent equipment, decent tuning, and decent instruction...and furthing your career would come from having contacts from that team.
Denning and Jensen have the unique opportunity that they have their programs in place to where they make money from contingency and all. They are capable of making more money on their own that way than what a decent team might be able to pay them. Yes, there is more travel, but the regular stresses of having to make appearances and things like that is lower. So, who'e got the better deal?
The other side is that there are guys that have taken the opportunites to develop programs. Honest programs that make them different in the market place, and, hence, they attract support in the form of advertising dollars to support their program. They may never win an AMA Superbike race or even a "lesser" event, but they are giving value and opportunity to a supporter.
With that...
Results?
Yes - 73%
No - 27%
Question 2
Do you treat your racing as a business?
This was my second question. One more to weed out a bit of the "dead wood" on the first question.
Seems as though everyone talks about "getting a sponsor".
Many seem to think that appearing at the track will attract a sponsor. I've even seen people try to get sponsors when they don't even race yet. How about that?
What I felt was telling were some of the responses. Although some riders felt that they didn't treat racing like a business, they did at least go through and set budgets, specific schedules, and the like. On the flip side, there are riders that would like to make a living racing, but they don't do anything to make their program attractive.
Results?
Yes - 35%
No - 65%