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By Adam Wheeler<br />
they could walk and even to the<br />
detriment of their education (with<br />
Gajser and Jeremy Seewer the<br />
notable exceptions for balancing<br />
top flite competition and finishing<br />
their studies) – so it is not only<br />
about riches and spoils. Racers<br />
with GP winning experience and<br />
knowledge can find their careers<br />
entering a cul-de-sac either at the<br />
age of 23-24 or 31-32. They might<br />
be able to continue what they love<br />
and at what they excel but it could<br />
come at personal and financial<br />
cost. Never before has a rider’s<br />
ability to market himself and his<br />
backers, his capacity to test and<br />
provide technical worth outside<br />
of a race and the willingness and<br />
character to blend and meld a<br />
team together been as important<br />
for longevity (as much as results).<br />
2020 could see a twenty-round<br />
calendar with treks from South<br />
America to Russia to Asia. MXGP<br />
has been moving in a globetrotting<br />
and ‘accommodating’<br />
direction for a number of years<br />
now as Youthstream push to fill<br />
part of their remit by attempting to<br />
spread the sport to new eyeballs<br />
and potentially fresh fanbases but<br />
the mechanisms behind the show<br />
– the teams and their resources –<br />
are still trying to catch-up to extent<br />
of the ambition. This means that<br />
competent satellite teams are at<br />
a premium, and saddles that are<br />
either desirable for high calibre<br />
experienced racers (that are not<br />
‘done’) or youngsters that sense an<br />
opportunity for a genuine stepping<br />
stone to a chance with a factory<br />
squad are few-and-far between.<br />
It is the friendliest dog-eat-dog<br />
situation you can find. Darwinism<br />
complete: only the strongest (or<br />
best backed) and most adaptable<br />
will make it (or prosper). Boundaries<br />
are being tested throughout<br />
the pack whether for sporting gain<br />
or sporting survival. It’s nothing<br />
new of course. But the erosion<br />
of the privateer at the elite level<br />
– of whatever sport – means the<br />
margins for living and achieving as<br />
a Pro are arguably much tighter.<br />
That brings pressure and it becomes<br />
a sustained build-up as the<br />
window to succeed (or earn) never<br />
ceases to slim.<br />
I seriously doubt whether there<br />
is the money in the sport to empower<br />
a host of teams to provide<br />
permanent berths (as Dorna have<br />
done to ensure a 22 rider grid,<br />
and they generate revenue thanks<br />
to TV rights and sponsorship)<br />
and the costs to compete a whole<br />
series will always be a determining<br />
factor. MXGP cannot trim dates<br />
as this would arguably present a<br />
backwards step but 360 sustainability<br />
should also be examined<br />
as much as horsepower figures<br />
and the metres allocated to track<br />
perimeters if the surge towards<br />
‘desperatism’ can be curbed.<br />
Then there is always the thought:<br />
will competitive and driven individuals<br />
ever step away from the<br />
clichéd ragged edge of disaster?
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