Last month Jorge Cuartas wrote and article on getting sponsors, but what about after you get an offer – what then? Do you jump all over just because it’s available? I guess you could, but have you stopped to ask yourself where you really want to go and what you can gain from the support? Even the best sponsorship is worthless if it’s not what will be the best political move for your career.
How many times have you seen riders change machines and flop the next season? It’s simple mathematics. If you dedicate two or three years riding a YFZ and then switch to a TRX with three months to prepare the odds are against you winning. And if you are moving up a class the next season your odds just became even worse. Switching machines, is not like switching brands of goggles or gloves.
Consider this: Tonka comes out with a new 450cc quad. It has plastic wheels, swivels in the center and bad geometry but they have a 53’ trailer with an entire staff of mechanics and engineers at your disposal. Along with that you get a meager race pay, and win bonuses. Do you see Byrd, Gust, Natalie, Willett, Jenks or any other Pro jumping all over that package? Hell no! There is more to this game than money – it’s the win the factories want. They all know they could never win on that machine; it would actually hurt their career more than help it. But that goes from your top rider down to your first year racer. Not all sponsorships are a good fit for everyone!
I think that is what is so exciting about this time in the season – change. The rumors are crazy and all over the board. You are going to see a huge push by some major factories to increase the sports overall value. And at the same time see others backing off. You have Pro riders and experienced amateurs switching rides and even converting classes.
But when is the right time for change? I had a conversation tonight with someone who has a good shot at a nice sponsorship, but is it the right choice? Tough question; he could race with little out of pocket – but would he produce? What if he was on fire but his machine provided lack luster results? There are plenty of examples of that, at least three in the GNCC world and two in the MX world. People who road their hearts out and their machines simply could not help them achieve their goal. And in at least two cases the factories blame the racers – personally I call ‘bullshit’. The machines sucked the life out of the racers and anyone paying attention knows it.
I think what it all comes down to is this: why are you racing? For fun? Money? Exposure? Attention of a girl or guy? Winning? Come on, we all have our own inner goals, right? Many people even lie about their goals. As long as you know and admit it to yourself you can find the right focus and direction to make the right choices.
In a drinking meeting I had last week we discussed all these reasons. The only thing we all agreed on – there is no such thing as bad exposure when you want promotion. Money, you might as well start playing the stock market because it’s they only way you will have a shot at getting rich quick. If it’s for the attention of the opposite sex – get help.
Let’s face it, the reality is this: if you want to move up through the ranks you need to produce and promote and not necessarily in that order. I don’t care how much you win you have to promote yourself too. And promoting is the toughest part of any good career. What you spend hours, days, weeks, months and years on can be bruised and tattered in an instant. Promoting is a 24/7/365 ordeal and you have to start yesterday.
Don’t know how to promote yourself as a racer? Look for that editorial soon! |
