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Top notch ambassador of our sport. So many great riders have gotten their start on Mitch’s team.
The Shop
Lacked a lot of depth. Seemed about a 10 minute conversation. That’s how long it took me to read it.
Mitch is an icon of the sport. Would love to hear more from him.
Unfortuantly like all motorsports talent only gets you so far and $$$ take you the rest.
To get everyone together to discuss it and possibly make some changes, he would be high on the list of people that could, so does he just not think he has that much power?
Or is he and other people in the industry that would have pull , just too Busy to try ?
Ive Heard him say similar things in other interviews and ive heard others say things somewhere along those lines,
But it seems like everyone in the sport of Moto is waiting
For someone else to do it , Even its its something like that,
That 90% of people that hear it think yeah that makes so much sence why dont they all get together and do something.
I started a brand called @raddadapparel on Instagram and facebook, once the company becomes profitable, i am planning to use a majority of the profits to help kids stay in teh sport. Whether it be, track entry gift cards, parts for motors, suspension tuning/rebuilds, tires etc.. It is a new brand, i currently have 1 shirt design and working on the 2nd. The shirt i have now is $15.
Lets help the kids. Keep the sport growing and competitive.
Pit Row
Unless you make all engines a spec engine it wouldnt work as some brands are producing much higher hp stock than others.
Fuk the mfg. if their bike sucks and not competitive fix it
Most hip ups are bought by every Johnny go fast dad in the amateur ranks. Not
Much money
To
Be made in the pro classes when most there need it no charge or at a deal
I've lost a few amateur national champions - or podium level riders to the fact this sport costs so much and pays so little once you "make it"
One of my guys - zane merrett, just recently podiumed mini 0's with some holeshots and a moto win, fastest lap in a moto as well in the pro/a classes
The cost of being competitive this year is mind blowing - and we aren't even doing it close to how we need to - his "good" race motor threw a rod at 42 hours (waaaay too many hours for usage and build - but money doesn't grow on trees) so he raced on his "not as good" race bike which still has a factory transmission, big bucks in the head and GET ECU, tons of R&D, kit suspension, etc.
Keeping the kid riding all year is about a 6 bike ordeal at minimum - and when he went pro his dad realized he couldn't keep riding practice on a stocker - which has escalated prices big time.
If you dont do it - you will be "up there" but never "there" which is what it takes to nab a factory spot.
Hopefully his showing will put him in discussion for a ride - which sucks for me! But it's what has to happen within the year or he too will likely quit or be "just on the outside" because competing at the real pro level vs a factory team wold cost you around 250k-300k a year to do it to their level for one rider if paying for all parts, mechanic, travel, suspension testing time, engine testing time, bikes, entries, fuel etc.
Once a team can have 4-5 guys a lot of the cost goes down per guy... but for just one you still need huge effort -
Doing 6 well done bikes - suspension, and maintenance plus training and riding every week, plus race schedule - they are well past 100k a year "on a budget" for am stuff.
And the "deals" all these people say they get - and "rides" they get - are mostly total BS. If the kid isn't under the factory tent - they dont usually get a damn thing but a discount on bikes from a dealer who is not getting help from the OEM - and just doing it out of goodness from their heart.
If you were an OEM - why give it away - they are going racing either way - and ARE your money making customers...
The saddest thing is there IS a claim rule in amateurs - but no one dares to do it. If you claimed a PC or geico pro bike - and were the first privateer so to speak behind those guys - you'd never get a ride from any of them...
I'd love to claim the geico 150r - be like 10k for that thing! Hang it up in the shop
But good luck showing your face in the industry after that.
Well done Eric. Thanks Mitch.
I believe that, a 125 class is the answer. I've already told my son that there's no way I could afford a modded 250f. So if he were to 'make it ', I couldn't afford it.
A 125 class however, I could afford.
Don't ban mods, that's the fun of it all
Just have a 125 class for working class dad's like me I'll port it if I have to.
Usually the signed kid’s parents earn a salary to be a mechanic per say - which covers costs to train full time and hire a practice mechanic
This way kids without money or one of the amateur factory rides can still compete & get noticed. Leave the “Modified” class for $20K-$30K bikes. Obviously if a kid riding out of his dads pickup can compete in the Stock class but gets blown away in modified based on his bikes disadvantage it would be easy to spot.
I have never been to Loretta Lynn’s or any of the big amateur nationals but it’s my understanding the “Stock” class ain’t “Stock” anymore.
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