Do you "need" sponsors? No. If you meet the qualifications as a rider, carry a pro card, bring equipment specific to the class in which you intend to race, and have the sign-in cash, you can sign up as a privateer - you will essentially buy yourself an opportunity to qualify to be on the grid. But pro racing is for making the sponsors rich, all of whom are very committed to being first (and in all the pictures, ads, tv, etc), so no matter the depth of your pockets, you will never be as competitive as the teams getting special parts from the factories or spending huge cubic dollars on their program, so you'll be racing for back-of-the-pack finishes. It takes a team of people behind each rider/bike just to come in 20th at this level: suspension engineers, engine programmers, tire technicians, team managers, mechanics. It takes enough spare parts to build at least 5 complete motorcycles to attend and finish all the races in the series. Then there are your travel costs for both the team and transport vehicles as well as flights for you back home to train, which should start the day after the race and end the night before the next race. If you really intend on competing with the top half of the field, you will take seriously the cost of your trainer and riding coach (sometimes they're the same person), your doctors, your nutritionist, track rentals, practice bikes, food, suppliments, vitamins, medication, insurance, and the inevitable hospital visit. The short answer is no. The long answer is yes, you wouldn't make it one round without someone else footing the bill. If you have to support your racing yourself and you're as fast as a pro, find an A Level club race near you. Usually they can string together a series that is affordable to attend, has enough rounds to be a challenge but few enough that you won't need more than one backup bike, and most of the riders don't take it seriously enough to have hired coaches, trainers, and other health and riding gurus. The difference comes down to something a middle-class working man can afford and realistically attend.
Ok I just always wanted to try AMA in two years once I hit 17(Quick question how many races in 600cc supersport are there in a year for that? Because the schedule for just all the events in general are late may to early September.)I'll be at a disadvantage because my parents never invested money in me for a bike when I was little or anything also because I didn't have an interest in it until I was 10(I'm not trying to sound like an ungrateful teenager because my parents have done a lot for me)so I'll be pretty much the underdog if I even make it to AMA. That's why I have a job at an auto body shop at 15 years old to try and afford the travel and if I do mess up to get a spare bike. Hopefully if I'm good enough I'll attract some attention otherwise I'll just get into stunting or drifting as those are things I wanted to do after I tried motorcycle racing once I hit 17. Another question where could I learn to race a motorcycle once I get one? Just go to a local track and set lap times? because road america(if that's what the Wisconsin track is called)is only 4 or 5 hrs away from me So thank you for the response hopefully if I still want to try it once I hit 17 It'll be natural talent to eventually at least make it to world superbike racing Thank You
Wow, a lot to address here. I really admire your determination! And I like that you have a goal. By the time an AMA rider lines up for his first professional race, that aforementioned team I spoke about has hired him and done enough testing prior to his first round to feel prepared enough to be competitive. That means everything: his workouts, riding training, diet, schedule, practice, setup, gear, motorcycles, etc have ALL been polished by a team with experience in the matter. All pro riders come to the first round as prepared as the next guy because they've spent months and thousands of dollars prior to this event getting ready for it, and nothing is left to chance, talent, or fortune, fate, stars, gods, or planetary alignment. Rarely does a rider enter a pro race without many years of experience behind him already and without months of strict, focused training. To be eligible to hold your pro card (I'm not as familiar with AMA Road racing as I am with Supercross/Motocross) you must be a relatively fast expert, not necessarily constantly winning, but fast enough to be talked about. For SX/MX, the old route used to be that you were a past champion in the A classes at major tournaments like Lorretta Lynn's, or held a specific number of points from the previous year, which also meant you were consistently fast and attending enough rounds to gather points all year. There is also the Ricky Carmichael Road to Supercross, which reduces the danger by increasing your experience through allowing/requiring riders to spend a year or two riding the Arenacross series, which is pro-level racing that experts/amateurs/pro-am/privateer riders can enter. And have to, as the case is today, but it replaces all that other expert class business and cuts to the chase of pro racing. All Pro racers have paid their dues by being the fast expert in a nationally-recognized series. And not one of them got there alone. To be that fast, you'll likely be the guy at the track that wipes up everyone else like it's nothing. The A class at most track days isn't even up to slow Club Racing speeds (unless actual racers are there practicing), so if you're a back-of-the-pack club racer, you should be lapping your A class at your local track day (which still doesn't guarantee you're fast enough to win), and probably good enough that your lap times don't vary by more than 2-3 seconds. Racing isn't always about fast, but it IS always about being consistent. To be that fast and consistent takes way more than talent, it takes innumerable hours of practicing at track days, entering club races, and eventually winning. Nobody has the perfect form, knows the perfect lines, nor has the inputs wired from day one, no matter how "talented" they are on a bike, these are things only time and discipline will teach. Many club racers (and in my experience, the "vet" racers at a local motocross) are old pros or experts that don't have the stamina of youth, but they have finely honed bike skills and will eat you for lunch. Trust me on that. I've had 50 year olds kill me on the MX track like it was nothing. I hang my head in shame. But, if you're friendly, many of them will give you pointers for free - this will be your first riding coach. So if you really want to start racing as a career, let's recap a route to your goals: 1) If you're new to motorcycles altogether, get something you can ride regularly and begin learning on. Get every book sold on motorcycling and read it cover to cover twice. Racing is taking those skills and polishing them to such a high degree that you will be among the world's best - as you can imagine, that's a very select few that take their skills very seriously. Skills - have them. 2)Get a bike for the track only, get GOOD gear that fits right, get tools and spare parts, and ride a track day as much as you can. Get a feel for how track days are organized and learn how to ride/race a motorcycle in a track environment. It's possible you will advance in speed enough just through this process to move up into faster classes. 2) Pay for lessons. Now is the time, if you think racing is in your future, to invest in it. Begin taking classes that specifically focus on racing, not the ones that also feature lessons on counter-steering Goldwings. Race lessons. 3) Practice until you're broke. Then borrow money from someone and practice until that person is broke. Then borrow more money and take more lessons. Promise your debtors you'll pay them back when you're famous ;p 4) If you think you have it, enter a local race. It will cost money, and even if you win, you'll be disgusted at the amount because it probably won't cover tires. But based on the results of that race, enter more. Do what is necessary to advance to the next level. Do you need to get more consistent lap times? Lower lap times? Better equipment? Advancing from the granny beginner class I ride in to the kids on 65s class takes a lot more than I thought. Lots of practice, lots of time at the track, and no matter what, I still have to twist the grip farther than I'd like - it's not easy, and only a coach can push you over those plateaus. If you're racing and winning some money and you want to make a career of it, hire that coach now. The good habits you will form now will be worth the money in fewer crashes and better form and hopefully more winning. That's because the next step is... 5) If you can race local races (usually just a single race day) and win most of the time, you will attract the attention of someone that wants to use you to advertise their business. In exchange, they may help you with your racing venture. Generally, it might be a bike shop that will give you a discount on bikes and parts, maybe a gear vendor (I had an O'Neal sponsorship that gave me 50% off their gear), it might even be local Bill and his Crab Shack. Point is, this is the start of your team. Now you have an expectation to live up to. Sponsors expect results - back of the pack racers don't sell crabs. 6) You got a riding coach right? Are you still taking racing classes? 7) By now, you'll need to enter a championship series if you expect to advance. This could be anything from 3 local races (the most I've ever done) to a full-length season that hits a few states. 8) Get into expert-level racing. These mini series will have dozens of classes, but in every other way will mimic what you can expect in pro-level racing, except the money you win. This is where you will earn the attention of the factory teams and other sponsors. If you can win/be consistent enough through a season or two of racing here, a team will take notice and possibly hire you. It could be a pro team, it could be an expert team, it could be a dog sled team, or a chess team, there's no telling. But working hard to get here and working hard here WILL get noticed. But don't stop working hard - you are a hired employee to race, so working hard HAS to be your ethic. 9) That, eventually, is how pro riders are made. There are a select few, however, that have the speed to run a pro pace, have met the necessary requirements to obtain a pro card, and still have not grabbed the golden ring of having that factory ride. These riders may have some sponsorships, but likely as not, they don't grace magazine covers and probably don't get much TV time. And, unfortunately, don't finish very well. These are the mid packers and beyond. Many are there still trying to make their dreams happen, many are there because it's a paycheck, and some are there because it's fun and they met all the requirements. But for all 3 of these groups, having a racing career at a pro-level without enough support is unsustainable. Your body will not keep up with the riders that are spending factory bucks on their fitness. Your machine will not keep up with the latest factory bling. Your team won't have the resources or team members that make the others more successful. And eventually the pocket book will run out. Talent is what makes riding the motorcycle easy for you. Hard work is what gets you the career. But money is what wins races. It all costs enormous amounts of money and requires you to give every single minute of your time to focus on what you need to do to get to the next step. Guys like Marquez, Lorenzo, Rossi, Stoner, etc have been racing since he was 5. Ryan Villipoto (supercross/motocross) has been groomed by the professional teams since he was 10, homeschooled so he had more time to ride, given trainers, coaches, and doctors to keep him moving in the direction required so the day he hit 16, he was at his peak and ready to win - not race, win. These men are the most elite athletes you will know, and you will need to be in the most peak physical condition you can bring your body to if you want to race alongside them. It's not easy, and it definitely isn't cheap. There's an old saying in racing, "To make a million dollars in racing, first have two million dollars".
That is some great advice for future and aspiring professional riders. CamApex9, I wish you the best of luck on your journey to becoming a professional AMA rider. I'm sure you'll be able to get there if you always persevere, keep pushing, and keep moving forward.
Thank you for all the advice I shall go back and look through it every now and then if I'm still into my dream. That's the thing I lack being rich and did not race at 5 years old. Rossi has won 9 world titles but made the Yamaha what it is today by risking it all and leaving Honda. Marq won last year at 20 years old! I do not expect to live up to these legends I look up to but I will try my hardest to get to a pro level. I thank you for believing in me and I will strive to win not race. I wish you the best of luck in life and maybe one day I'll make it. :)
"can I race in AMA ? Ah yeah, bring LOTS OF MONEY, and a spare bike ! ! and friends who want to work for free.... I " club raced" for three seasons, the grid is STACKED in the 600 class, you gotta be really fast - and not worried about making it to work on Monday IF you crash hard . . .
It blows my mind that a rider can make it to a professional level without knowing how to pick up a bike. Everyone reading this: turn around and lift the bike BEHIND your hips, facing away and using your legs. Even in sand with 600# bikes, women can pick them up, making the rider that lowsided at 3:11 look like a child.
Scott Russell ....you are a true soldier ..... live long and prosper
This is the best way to promote a domestic Championship.
Great stuff.
My friend Brian Mullins(66) did really well for this first Pro AMA race!
Is the Supersport race 2 going to be posted?
can you please upload the Harley Davidson race
Do you need sponsors to race in supersport for ama?
Or just a 600cc bike?
Do you "need" sponsors? No. If you meet the qualifications as a rider, carry a pro card, bring equipment specific to the class in which you intend to race, and have the sign-in cash, you can sign up as a privateer - you will essentially buy yourself an opportunity to qualify to be on the grid.
But pro racing is for making the sponsors rich, all of whom are very committed to being first (and in all the pictures, ads, tv, etc), so no matter the depth of your pockets, you will never be as competitive as the teams getting special parts from the factories or spending huge cubic dollars on their program, so you'll be racing for back-of-the-pack finishes. It takes a team of people behind each rider/bike just to come in 20th at this level: suspension engineers, engine programmers, tire technicians, team managers, mechanics. It takes enough spare parts to build at least 5 complete motorcycles to attend and finish all the races in the series. Then there are your travel costs for both the team and transport vehicles as well as flights for you back home to train, which should start the day after the race and end the night before the next race. If you really intend on competing with the top half of the field, you will take seriously the cost of your trainer and riding coach (sometimes they're the same person), your doctors, your nutritionist, track rentals, practice bikes, food, suppliments, vitamins, medication, insurance, and the inevitable hospital visit.
The short answer is no. The long answer is yes, you wouldn't make it one round without someone else footing the bill. If you have to support your racing yourself and you're as fast as a pro, find an A Level club race near you. Usually they can string together a series that is affordable to attend, has enough rounds to be a challenge but few enough that you won't need more than one backup bike, and most of the riders don't take it seriously enough to have hired coaches, trainers, and other health and riding gurus. The difference comes down to something a middle-class working man can afford and realistically attend.
Ok I just always wanted to try AMA in two years once I hit 17(Quick question how many races in 600cc supersport are there in a year for that? Because the schedule for just all the events in general are late may to early September.)I'll be at a disadvantage because my parents never invested money in me for a bike when I was little or anything also because I didn't have an interest in it until I was 10(I'm not trying to sound like an ungrateful teenager because my parents have done a lot for me)so I'll be pretty much the underdog if I even make it to AMA. That's why I have a job at an auto body shop at 15 years old to try and afford the travel and if I do mess up to get a spare bike. Hopefully if I'm good enough I'll attract some attention otherwise I'll just get into stunting or drifting as those are things I wanted to do after I tried motorcycle racing once I hit 17.
Another question where could I learn to race a motorcycle once I get one? Just go to a local track and set lap times? because road america(if that's what the Wisconsin track is called)is only 4 or 5 hrs away from me
So thank you for the response hopefully if I still want to try it once I hit 17 It'll be natural talent to eventually at least make it to world superbike racing
Thank You
Wow, a lot to address here. I really admire your determination! And I like that you have a goal.
By the time an AMA rider lines up for his first professional race, that aforementioned team I spoke about has hired him and done enough testing prior to his first round to feel prepared enough to be competitive. That means everything: his workouts, riding training, diet, schedule, practice, setup, gear, motorcycles, etc have ALL been polished by a team with experience in the matter. All pro riders come to the first round as prepared as the next guy because they've spent months and thousands of dollars prior to this event getting ready for it, and nothing is left to chance, talent, or fortune, fate, stars, gods, or planetary alignment. Rarely does a rider enter a pro race without many years of experience behind him already and without months of strict, focused training.
To be eligible to hold your pro card (I'm not as familiar with AMA Road racing as I am with Supercross/Motocross) you must be a relatively fast expert, not necessarily constantly winning, but fast enough to be talked about. For SX/MX, the old route used to be that you were a past champion in the A classes at major tournaments like Lorretta Lynn's, or held a specific number of points from the previous year, which also meant you were consistently fast and attending enough rounds to gather points all year. There is also the Ricky Carmichael Road to Supercross, which reduces the danger by increasing your experience through allowing/requiring riders to spend a year or two riding the Arenacross series, which is pro-level racing that experts/amateurs/pro-am/privateer riders can enter. And have to, as the case is today, but it replaces all that other expert class business and cuts to the chase of pro racing. All Pro racers have paid their dues by being the fast expert in a nationally-recognized series. And not one of them got there alone.
To be that fast, you'll likely be the guy at the track that wipes up everyone else like it's nothing. The A class at most track days isn't even up to slow Club Racing speeds (unless actual racers are there practicing), so if you're a back-of-the-pack club racer, you should be lapping your A class at your local track day (which still doesn't guarantee you're fast enough to win), and probably good enough that your lap times don't vary by more than 2-3 seconds. Racing isn't always about fast, but it IS always about being consistent.
To be that fast and consistent takes way more than talent, it takes innumerable hours of practicing at track days, entering club races, and eventually winning. Nobody has the perfect form, knows the perfect lines, nor has the inputs wired from day one, no matter how "talented" they are on a bike, these are things only time and discipline will teach. Many club racers (and in my experience, the "vet" racers at a local motocross) are old pros or experts that don't have the stamina of youth, but they have finely honed bike skills and will eat you for lunch. Trust me on that. I've had 50 year olds kill me on the MX track like it was nothing. I hang my head in shame. But, if you're friendly, many of them will give you pointers for free - this will be your first riding coach.
So if you really want to start racing as a career, let's recap a route to your goals:
1) If you're new to motorcycles altogether, get something you can ride regularly and begin learning on. Get every book sold on motorcycling and read it cover to cover twice. Racing is taking those skills and polishing them to such a high degree that you will be among the world's best - as you can imagine, that's a very select few that take their skills very seriously. Skills - have them.
2)Get a bike for the track only, get GOOD gear that fits right, get tools and spare parts, and ride a track day as much as you can. Get a feel for how track days are organized and learn how to ride/race a motorcycle in a track environment. It's possible you will advance in speed enough just through this process to move up into faster classes.
2) Pay for lessons. Now is the time, if you think racing is in your future, to invest in it. Begin taking classes that specifically focus on racing, not the ones that also feature lessons on counter-steering Goldwings. Race lessons.
3) Practice until you're broke. Then borrow money from someone and practice until that person is broke. Then borrow more money and take more lessons. Promise your debtors you'll pay them back when you're famous ;p
4) If you think you have it, enter a local race. It will cost money, and even if you win, you'll be disgusted at the amount because it probably won't cover tires. But based on the results of that race, enter more. Do what is necessary to advance to the next level. Do you need to get more consistent lap times? Lower lap times? Better equipment? Advancing from the granny beginner class I ride in to the kids on 65s class takes a lot more than I thought. Lots of practice, lots of time at the track, and no matter what, I still have to twist the grip farther than I'd like - it's not easy, and only a coach can push you over those plateaus. If you're racing and winning some money and you want to make a career of it, hire that coach now. The good habits you will form now will be worth the money in fewer crashes and better form and hopefully more winning. That's because the next step is...
5) If you can race local races (usually just a single race day) and win most of the time, you will attract the attention of someone that wants to use you to advertise their business. In exchange, they may help you with your racing venture. Generally, it might be a bike shop that will give you a discount on bikes and parts, maybe a gear vendor (I had an O'Neal sponsorship that gave me 50% off their gear), it might even be local Bill and his Crab Shack. Point is, this is the start of your team. Now you have an expectation to live up to. Sponsors expect results - back of the pack racers don't sell crabs.
6) You got a riding coach right? Are you still taking racing classes?
7) By now, you'll need to enter a championship series if you expect to advance. This could be anything from 3 local races (the most I've ever done) to a full-length season that hits a few states.
8) Get into expert-level racing. These mini series will have dozens of classes, but in every other way will mimic what you can expect in pro-level racing, except the money you win. This is where you will earn the attention of the factory teams and other sponsors. If you can win/be consistent enough through a season or two of racing here, a team will take notice and possibly hire you. It could be a pro team, it could be an expert team, it could be a dog sled team, or a chess team, there's no telling. But working hard to get here and working hard here WILL get noticed. But don't stop working hard - you are a hired employee to race, so working hard HAS to be your ethic.
9) That, eventually, is how pro riders are made. There are a select few, however, that have the speed to run a pro pace, have met the necessary requirements to obtain a pro card, and still have not grabbed the golden ring of having that factory ride. These riders may have some sponsorships, but likely as not, they don't grace magazine covers and probably don't get much TV time. And, unfortunately, don't finish very well. These are the mid packers and beyond. Many are there still trying to make their dreams happen, many are there because it's a paycheck, and some are there because it's fun and they met all the requirements. But for all 3 of these groups, having a racing career at a pro-level without enough support is unsustainable. Your body will not keep up with the riders that are spending factory bucks on their fitness. Your machine will not keep up with the latest factory bling. Your team won't have the resources or team members that make the others more successful. And eventually the pocket book will run out.
Talent is what makes riding the motorcycle easy for you. Hard work is what gets you the career. But money is what wins races.
It all costs enormous amounts of money and requires you to give every single minute of your time to focus on what you need to do to get to the next step. Guys like Marquez, Lorenzo, Rossi, Stoner, etc have been racing since he was 5. Ryan Villipoto (supercross/motocross) has been groomed by the professional teams since he was 10, homeschooled so he had more time to ride, given trainers, coaches, and doctors to keep him moving in the direction required so the day he hit 16, he was at his peak and ready to win - not race, win. These men are the most elite athletes you will know, and you will need to be in the most peak physical condition you can bring your body to if you want to race alongside them. It's not easy, and it definitely isn't cheap. There's an old saying in racing, "To make a million dollars in racing, first have two million dollars".
That is some great advice for future and aspiring professional riders. CamApex9, I wish you the best of luck on your journey to becoming a professional AMA rider. I'm sure you'll be able to get there if you always persevere, keep pushing, and keep moving forward.
Thank you for all the advice I shall go back and look through it every now and then if I'm still into my dream. That's the thing I lack being rich and did not race at 5 years old. Rossi has won 9 world titles but made the Yamaha what it is today by risking it all and leaving Honda. Marq won last year at 20 years old! I do not expect to live up to these legends I look up to but I will try my hardest to get to a pro level.
I thank you for believing in me and I will strive to win not race. I wish you the best of luck in life and maybe one day I'll make it. :)
"can I race in AMA ? Ah yeah, bring LOTS OF MONEY, and a spare bike ! ! and friends who want to work for free.... I " club raced" for three seasons, the grid is STACKED in the 600 class, you gotta be really fast - and not worried about making it to work on Monday IF you crash hard . . .
It blows my mind that a rider can make it to a professional level without knowing how to pick up a bike. Everyone reading this: turn around and lift the bike BEHIND your hips, facing away and using your legs. Even in sand with 600# bikes, women can pick them up, making the rider that lowsided at 3:11 look like a child.