Earning Money Racing

[Binky]

Was just wondering at what point racers actually earn an income, no matter how little or large the amount.

Is there a rough pyramid that leads up to WSB and MotoGP.

How much do you think BSB guys earn from wages and endorsements and how many race series are in between minitwins and BSB if that makes sense?

Lots to discuss, i hope this thread doesn't flop now.

Also you can win money in private competitions, i.e. 1 offs like the TT and MGP.

Theres about 20 SV650's running in there own V-Twin/Mini-Twin w/e it's called class at the MGP this year prizes do go out. Keep your eyes for the result on friday. http://www.manxgrandprix.org/

Also quite often Binkey been good enough and getting signed up to a team they will pay your wage to race rather than go off working . But you have to be good enough first

[Binky]

Originally Posted by ManxMatt34

Also quite often Binkey been good enough and getting signed up to a team they will pay your wage to race rather than go off working

But it takes time getting to that point, proving yourself in lower formulas and series.

I mean, are there any rides in amateur or semi-professional racing where teams will pay riders or just earn a little from sponsorship.

Originally Posted by Binky

But it takes time getting to that point, proving yourself in lower formulas and series.

I mean, are there any rides in amateur or semi-professional racing where teams will pay riders or just earn a little from sponsorship.

Not unless your winning and taking home prize money which you then spend back on the bike if your almost or are a privateer.

The cost of racing is appauling and all your sponsorship would go on bike stuff. Kneale my mate over here is almost there with 6 months worth of purchasing stuff for the racing, from fire extingushars to a van, all stuff you need.

Then you have club fee's, race entry feee's each individual race. And a new set of tyres pretty much every couple of meets.

[flymo]

Originally Posted by ManxMatt34

Not unless your winning and taking home prize money which you then spend back on the bike if your almost or are a privateer.

The cost of racing is appauling and all your sponsorship would go on bike stuff. Kneale my mate over here is almost there with 6 months worth of purchasing stuff for the racing, from fire extingushars to a van, all stuff you need.

Then you have club fee's, race entry feee's each individual race. And a new set of tyres pretty much every couple of meets.

yeah, tell me about it. Racing is a money pit thats for sure.

[G]

Sometimes in the back of the mags you see a bio for riders. There normally a career history which reads;

2003 125cc national champ
2004 125cc national champ
2005 600cc superstock 3rd overall
2006 GSXR Trophy 2nd overall
2007 BSB etc

God knows how they pull it off though I seriously think trying to fund your way through one of the support races for BSB (GSXR Trophy) etc would be your best bet for getting spotted and asked to race for someone.

In a recent ACU magazine that came through the door for £12500 you got a fully prepped GSXR600, free tyres for the seasons racing, entry to all races paid for and a support team.

Or if you already had a K6/7/8/9 you could pay £1500k to have it prepped and then race entry was £250 a race etc.

Expensive but if you did stupidly well in your first season you would probably be sorted.

I reckon if you were racing a teams bike for them... you would have to make it around without falling off/damaging it though

[Binky]

Would you say BSB is the first sort of race series that riders are actually paid then???

Are all the BSB support series just amatuer racers on thier own bikes etc?

Originally Posted by Binky

Would you say BSB is the first sort of race series that riders are actually paid then???

Are all the BSB support series just amatuer racers on thier own bikes etc?

There are even small/almost privateer teams at that level, in the lower classses like superstock bla bla..... It's not viable as a career if thats what your wondering? Unless your gonna be the next big poo.

my great mate is roger marshall who was 11 times british 500 cc champion
and is one really spot on guy.
i went to college with him as apprentice sparkies,rode bikes with him,
had him as pillion and vice versa,and that boy could ride a bike,any bike like he was born on it.he started racing on low cost budget bikes,club meetings all over the country,but we have cadwell park on our doorstep and they had club meetings with one club or another nearly every week.
he would race saturday and sunday , and eventually he was noticed because he was good and got sponsors,good mechanics and faster bikes,
good mates who showed him racing lines,good tips on tracks,
i would say that nowadays you have to have some pretty trick machines and a good amount of expendable cash before you can get anywhere, and be pretty good at it as well.but they all start at the bottom.

[Red Herring]

I think it's incredibly hard to make a living at racing unless you are very good, and very committed to getting better.... You then have to ask what else you hope to get out of it. I love my riding, and I enjoyed my racing, apart from the one season where I raced someone else's bike. It might sound great just turning up at the circuit, riding the bike, and then going home afterwards but with it comes all the extra pressure of having to meet someone else's expectations and somehow that took some of the fun out of it. I guess there are others who have found once you turn a hobby into an occupation it's no longer the pleasure it was.