Quote:
Originally Posted by ScottyR
There are only 50 riders entered in most rounds and no amateurs are allowed to ride. Not a good strategy to attract riders.
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Amateurs? My understanding is that EWC has only around 10 people actually being paid for riding motorcycles so almost everyone there is in fact an amateur.
The problem is that EWC aims to be a worldwide series with several overseas rounds. This automatically rises costs to the level which is not bearable to privateers. Riding at the top level is damn expensive with all costs related to machinery, travel, training, mechanics, suspension etc. But this actually the only way to really develop machinery - to race, to get the feedback, to improve, endlessly. That's the reason why factories need to be involved in top level racing - all the PR and promotional value is just a side effect.
So racing teams are THE place where all the know-how about winning techniques accumulates. That's the reason why GasGas wants to run its own racing team instead of just sponsoring some private effort. Same applies to Sherco, Beta, TM and other small boutique brands. They do not WANT to race, they NEED it. If KTM decides that they now do not need it it is a very worrying sign about the future of our sport.