"The sport is at a breaking point!" - Phil Nicoletti on the brutal realities of racing Supercross

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

5:40 Phil hit the nail so hard on the head. When I quit racing it was like there was always a hole, and I fully believe that it was that adrenaline dump that we've all become so hooked on then when you quit it's no wonder we'll all scratching our necks, and I didn't even race at that high of a level for very long!

[@lamonstar8373]

Ha O H o A is Hoooho Whoosh Soaps Ooh9/9) A O

[@thequadzillaking]

These SX/MX Dudes have always been my super hero’s. They’re truly on another level in regards to their physical & mental dynamics.

[@webrappin3314]

Gotta love Phil .what a legend he is seems well down to earth .he the elite of the elite in our sport .top twenty rider day in day out in the world imagine beeing able to say that

[@bunnyman6321]

At the end of the day we still brappin 😂

[@andrewtorgerson6143]

Dude even as a casual rider if I take time off of riding I am addicted I miss it I feel that

[@DavidRitchie-tr2rn]

Kite Surfin is the same deal

[@Cosmicsurfpro]

I think SX 10 rounds MX 10 rounds and top 10 in points in both go to a 5 round WSX. Would be awesome. January to July

[@rolotomassi8536]

I love this sport and watching this leaves me asking myself what should I do, as a fan, to help? Cause I paid 200USD just in tickets to attend Unadilla this year with my family. Probaly a 100$ in fuel to get there, 200$ for the hotel and probably around 50$ in food and other stuffs trackside. And I was happy with the show and all. But I'm not a millionnaire... I don't bring my kids to hockey games or other expensive shows worth like 150 bucks + a ticket cause I just can't afford it. What can I do to help? And this is not me displaying dispair. It really is a sincere question you know...

[@sauce1232]

What/who are you talking about helping ? Btw you can sleep in a tent it's cheap and fun :)

[@carljames4992]

like comment and subscribe

[@SuperSayinSolidSnek]

If it's too hard these guys could quit, or form a union and demand better hours.

[@jordan1352]

Bro I was gonna go to dilla this year but it just wasn't the move because of the money it would take to get there from buffalo

[@tjtruth4793]

Tbh, I bet if just 5-10% of fans started sending hand written letters to all the ama and smx execs every week, would start to see change. But also, riders need to team up and state demands. They have no series if the riders don’t show.

[@adam_allday9470]

Dude, this episode was so fu#&ing good. Such a real insight into a lot of things that fans and others just don’t see or think about. We need to protect these riders and compensate them soooo much more than they are right now.

[@SuperSayinSolidSnek]

Why should they get paid more?

[@Matthew-zw9su]

Especially the 5th to 20th.

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

2 Things; 1, in Circle Track dirt racing it's the same problem, these guys just race CONSTANTLY there IS no off season. It's extremely difficult to survive an entire season let alone perform well. and 2, the biggest sport in the West is NFL, and they play so many fewer games than every other sport, AND it's the most popular. Less frequent racing would be better for EVERYONE.

[@brycedavis907]

I fucking love Phil. He has to be absolutely one of the top interviews in moto. He has real points and I appreciate that he is willing to give an honest representation of the sport as he sees it.

[@midlifemotox]

Im in the live music business. I can tell you that commercial travel takes the biggest toll. Getting to a crappy airport at the crack of dawn, going through security, dealing with the idiots at TSA, dealing with the general public, dealing with the airlines, dealing with delayed flights. It takes a huge toll on you mentally. Then there's the crappy hotels and transportation. It's not glamorous. It's a difficult existence.

[@Duken4evr29]

Great interview. Phil is so real about this it hurts. What Phil so calmly describes sounds like a special kind of Hell. While there is no physical danger or adrenaline hits involved, the soul crushing cubicle Hell middle management accountable but no authority 70+ hours a week corporate grind sucks too. I mention this as it was my work reality for 35 years, and misery loves company. There is no way I would have hacked it and probably would have "gone postal" if not for the motorcycle habit as a release and safety valve! They say "follow your passion". BS I say - there is nothing that can kill passion like turning it into a grinding job. It is better to find work that you can do easier/better than others, and do that. At least then the grind isn't quite as bad, until the corporate overlords figure out that you are part of the 20% that can do 80% of the front line work. Then they relentlessly pile more work on with no financial rewards other than nice words in your annual review that don't pay your bills. Getting promoted to "strategic" do nothing executive positions in the corporate world is a boot licking popularity contest, it is like fucking High School all over again. Lately there are "DEI" promotions going on too. Not "PC" of me to say this, but forget it if you are a straight white guy. A lesbian black chick? Promote her ass to SRVP of the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Dept. and pay her 250K a year to show the world just how progressive and inclusive we are. I'm not making this shit up, I've lived it and been pulled away from my busy pile of work and subjected to the mandatory sensitivity training. As you may surmise from this little rant, the training didn't really stick... So even at the elite level, being a pro MX racer isn't all it's cracked up to be, and working for corporate America typically sucks ass. There are no more 40 hour a week punch the clock, make decent middle class money with benefits, go home and leave it behind over the weekend jobs anymore. Where did the middle class jobs go? They got outsourced to cheap labor hellhole nations, all so we can buy cheap shit at Walmart, and the corporate executives and shareholders can compound their wealth. What to do then? Hiding out in some sort of managerial government job seems like it it is about the only viable option, as the relative work utopia I describe doesn't really exist in the private sector, whether one works for a corporation or even those who are entrepreneurs. Successful entrepreneurs are probably the hardest working people of all. As for my recent college grad young adult daughter, I have a friend who owes me a favor who is in management at the state Health Dept. She is feeding us inside info and working to get my kid into that cushy insulated from reality government job paradise 😂

[@zacharyradford5552]

Then do a grinding job.

[@mxlarge6915]

Nobody forces riders to race. They do it because they love it. The top guys who people want to watch a millionaires in a sport that is smaller than lawn bowls.

[@tychase2432]

So you disagree with everything they are saying?

[@mxlarge6915]

@@tychase2432 No, but people complaining seems to be very common these days, I get tired of it. Just get on with your life, career and be thankful for Feld, MXsports or Infront, because without them, the sports in trouble.

[@MrXalex25]

It is true: while I understand the point.. everyone works 40-50 hrs a week or more and a lot of jobs have health concerns.

[@mxlarge6915]

@@MrXalex25 True, probably 80% of the population hate their job. Sportsmen, in any sport are very, very lucky.

[@MotoMatt418]

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” MXLarge, what these actual pros are trying to tell all of us is that the system is broken. It’s not complaining.

[@mcsbikelife3829]

I just can’t imagine that and it’s why we lose so many racers . I was there myself I raced and raced and raced that’s what was important all through my 20s and 30s . The grind killed it for me and im only local fast like winning district stuff no national titles . I took a step away from the sport the last few years and have found road racing .

[@MPAC-ug7jl]

That’s replacing the grind/fix with another adrenal fueled deal. Mine was drag racing from 8 years old until my late 20’s then I started doing moto and throw in being a firefighter since I was 18. We always seem to replace the fix with a fix

[@bunnyman6321]

​@@MPAC-ug7jl yup

[@zacharyradford5552]

Grind what fucking grind? You wanna see grind look at Christian Craig went pro fell of went to being a roofer then said FUCK ROOFING as soon as he got another chance at being a pro.

[@allmtbnzscottbrownhill2896]

Striving to be the best has done this. There will always be somebody whiling to do more for a championship and that started with Ricky.

[@keiannschyler]

Ricky is the only like on a race track. Poto is not even close. James is the most technical on track but I don't think he has the passion same as Ricky.

[@JessC792]

@@keiannschyler English?

[@keiannschyler]

@@JessC792 not a native speaker of english.. not my problem if you can't comprehend.

[@JessC792]

@@keiannschyler "Ricky is the only like on a race track" Thats where you lost me

[@jonlebon7106]

The problem with the sport of MX and SX is that it’s not as popular as the major sports, the big money is simply not there.

[@markgaudreau8053]

true fact, but why? How do you make it as popular as MLB lets say?

[@diggitydawg241]

If they put it on tv channels that everyone could actually watch instead of like a different app per moto thatd help haha. And they make way more than enough to have a higher payout than $10k for first place of a 450 sx main event haha. Thats insane to me that thats all they make (aside from their sponsorship deals)

[@jonlebon7106]

@@markgaudreau8053 it has to relate to families across America, football, baseball, basketball is all affordable and in schools so popularity is easily supported by mainstream America. Motorsports are harder to do aside from NASCAR. They can try different formats and time slots? Try and get into certain demographics?

[@jeffgayzose8129]

@@diggitydawg241 it has been on nbc in the past and moto x games used to be on espn.

[@perc3136]

@@markgaudreau8053 your average kid cant just go and start racing dirtbikes its way to expensive and thats the main reason it will never be big... its a rich persons game.

[@c3h84ever]

This sport is going to.miss Phil, love his honesty

[@PeterReefman]

Gotta give a shout-out to Jase's retro black Rat-Racing t-shirt. I had one of those (with a full-sized graphic) as a race jersey in the late 80's.

[@woodrowrunyon9235]

Tripping on shrooms with Phil would be epic.

[@jnature6586]

haha i agree

[@woodrowrunyon9235]

@@jnature6586 throw in A-Mart and Steve Matheses

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

@@woodrowrunyon9235 Throw Steve Mathes into oncoming traffic, maybe, but that's about it! 😂 I cannot stand that guy, what a prick.

[@thefish4477]

You gents should try concreting, just for some perspective😂. We all wish our jobs would be half the year and double the money but the world simply can’t work like that. The state of motocross is dictated by the over supply of highly motivated, extremely talented riders trying to make a dream come true. If bricklaying was fun then bricklaying would have exactly the same “issues” as moto does.

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

Facts. Any physical labor job, it doesn't take long and they WISH they were back racing Moto, ask Christian Craig! He Retired, and went back to work and it wasn't a year, maybe 2 he was like FFFFFF That, I'm going back racing.

[@csalin7327]

Obviously..this dude doesn't ride

[@saltyp123]

Sorry dude...I know it's a year later...but bricklaying/concreting and being a professional athlete is not the same comparison. Especially what they are talking about. Not saying that bricklaying isn't super hard...but there's a reason theres more bricklaying companies/workers than all the professional sports combined. You're comparing jobs that 60+ percent of the population can do (especially with modern equipment advances)....to the literal one percent of humans. You're crazy and help re-enforce that laborers don't use their brain stereotype.

[@deansantaw9949]

The day you can die from doing concrete is the day you can compare to dirt bike racing not to mention they work monday threw Sunday training the heart rate they are ment to keep is enough to cause people heart attacks and you can be the best rider have your bike malfunction end up dying or being paralyzed from something thst was completely out of your hands you had no control over it untill that can happen while doing concrete dont act like doing manual labor is something you can compare to someone who can die from what they are doing regardless of how good they are at it or how much they train and practice and before you say some dumb shit ive built trusses and worked on building house and now i do granite countertops and i would never compare my job to a job someone can die doing get overyourself lol

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

@@deansantaw9949 You can die walking down the sidewalk wtf is your point

[@andrettski8686]

Gonna miss Phil, he always said what he thought, never sugar coated anything.

[@koreym777]

It will be like boxing and mma sports. There will be good riders in each series that we will never get to see race each other. The system wasn't broke.

[@Evo836]

It's the same in Europe some ones making money but the riders are not no money for privateers look at the MXGP start line Italy no full gate.

[@callumshave9813]

Schedule solution: The riders can handle more riding in shorter periods of time and this would allow a longer Offseason which is what is required. This was shown during the pandemic with residencies. So to shorten the number of weekends that the riders race without sacrificing rounds. Supercross- have 7 Friday night and Sunday race weekends. This would shorten the overall season by 7 weeks and I don’t think that the Racers would struggle to recover in that period. Depending on scheduling and marketing a Tuesday night race could also be an option. Motocross - To promote change, 4 rounds should be 3 x20 minute motos, this would work in the hot races also. You would then be able to have 24 motos over 10 rounds, again shortening the season by 2 weeks This would then add an additional 9 weeks off in the off-season for the riders and not sacrifice any racing as that could affect the series financially.

[@EricCare1]

Brilliant!

[@countershox5359]

So an idea would be every rider gets out of 31 rounds has 5 throw outs. It could be used for injuries or recover strategies and track/rier preference strategies. And the series gets to keep the ridiculous schedule of 31

[@rogerw3818]

Thirty years ago, riders were chastised for not having the regiment and dedication of a Jeff Ward or Jeff Stanton.

[@paulmryglod4802]

I remember in the 90s, the first three sx races was like watching everyone get back in race shape in real time. Those days are over.

[@malisinimicus4358]

Most people don't understand just how many risks a SX or MX racer takes every lap! After years of racing these risks are never removed but more that of just being dismissed through skill but like anything it is a numbers game. every so often something happens to remind you of just how many thousands of risks you took with near complete abandon

[@ScottHorban]

There are guys that are fast and just rip. Most of it being tons of practice since they were like 5 yrs old. Its not as much natural talent as it is practice , plus your dad pushing you , then while your at school - Hes on the tractor moving your triples from 60' to 65' . You suddenly are doing 95' -100' triples when you're 14 yrs old no hesitation. Yeah those guys are fast and aee super talented. But its been a combination of dad pushing you and you have built a reputation as a fast up and coming kid . But , you have guys that just have something special ,naturally talented, and have just have to be in front of everyone no matter what ! Plus will send it without hesitation with perfect bike control. This guy loves every minute on a a dirtbike and a track, and loves riding all the variaty of tracks plus has his favorites that he would ride without pay or sponsors. Just loves these tracks and loves grabbing those easy leads because he ia having fun and loves what he does + has problem being 2nd. He has to be in the front . If your the guy who doesn't truly love every part racing dirt bikes ? You consider it work and you feel good as long as you make it to the mains and grab some podiums. Well you probably should get a job and give up the dream . Maybe in a couple years , you will miss racing so much you will actually become that guy . The guy who does have winning talent and loves just racing his dirt bike in every venue, being in front is the cherry on top. You are making a living doing what you love and no one is passing you .

[@Mike_HuntizWet]

Like JS7. He just HAD something

[@nikhayes3396]

Its interesting the dichotomy, because for every 1 guy that made it to the grind there are at least 1000 that tried and failed behind them. That said, maybe having more races would make teams think about splitting the races up and having double the riders? I don't know enough "inside baseball" to know if that sounds completely stupid or not. But from what I do know it is a thought.

[@TheYammerHammer]

we see it! No break between SX and AX

[@jnature6586]

I think the neverending season would be cool If the race pay was significantly higher in all series. Then riders could pick and choose and have more power in their deals instead of being committed to certain full series for team obligations, or simply knowing that they race for peanuts so over-committing to a crazy schedule to try and get bread. Always comes back to pay the guys more ,they ain't circus animals they are top G's!

[@SuperSayinSolidSnek]

Why would they get paid more?

[@jnature6586]

@@SuperSayinSolidSnek is that a joke?

[@jnature6586]

@@SuperSayinSolidSnek 7th $26,597 8th $25,027 9th $23,507 this is the payout for the iditarod. never heard of it? me either. compare that to ama premier class 7th-$2650 8th $2550 9th-$2500. could also compare to PGA,F1,NASCAR,NFL,ESports if ur feeling frisky

[@SuperSayinSolidSnek]

@@jnature6586 the Iditarod is probably the single most famous non motorsport race on earth, it's also a yearly race so comparing the payouts is dishonest. Also just because someone else makes that much doesn't mean these guys should Seriously though, motocross is a rich kids sport without mass appeal, it's the same problem that's kept hockey from reaching the heights baseball and basketball have reached. You can outfit an entire basketball team for the price of a bike, or goalie equipment.

[@jnature6586]

@@SuperSayinSolidSnek I know what the iditarod is its a joke foo. but in all seriousness its a solid comparison considering moto is 100 times cooler and funner to watch casually. why do you think they should make shit? i dont understand ur logic on why their pay is legit as is. Who cares if its a rich kids sport, so are plenty others that have proper pay and management. The promoters have pillaged the sport for years making bank and sharing little, while monopolizing every aspect of the promotion possible, hindering outside support. almost like its a circus show, oh wait thats right. no mass appeal?! what does any other sport have as far as mass appeal that moto doesnt? it hasnt been mass adopted but is more appealing to a casual than almost any sport IMO and deserves recognition. so expensive sport = less pay to you? because more people can do it at home? what about go cart racing and F1? they overpaid?

[@tjtruth4793]

The fact that you’re semi self censoring because you need a press badge is a huge indication of a much larger issue at hand. Honest ppl don’t fear criticism. Liars and cheats do tho

[@justinainsworth1567]

Eli does it everyday, every year, never gets hurt while beating everyone. How does that guy do it?? That’s the million dollar question.

[@iceKOId]

This didn’t age well 😮

[@damonforrest1570]

He knows when to back off. Plus he’s in the best of shape. He’s still beast mode in my eyes. And he has had that many serious crashes. Think his shoulders back in 17 is the Achilles injury in his thumb injury. That’s why he’s in good shape and still able to go and ride. It pays off in the long run to get in a lot of accidents or crashes you able to go. Tomac is almost a rare breed.✌️🤙🙏👍🇺🇸💯🫡

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

Living and training at home, at altitude, with no other top guys around, with his Dad, I think that really is a lot of it.

[@BilobateDrip]

​@@iceKOId double that now. It's only a ticking time bomb, no matter how cautious you are. Also, caution doesn't win a championship anymore

[@iceKOId]

@@BilobateDrip I hope Deegan and Jett stay healthy. It’s so easy to have a crash requiring surgery

[@utahdesertrider1806]

It would be hard enough without the injury factor. I’d say once you get established enough ride SX or outdoors only

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

Facts. I get why these teams want their guys to race both, but for sustainability I really do think it'd be in everyone's best interest to have SX and MX "specialists" as it were, because having all your eggs in 1 basket is nice IF it works out, but with moto so rarely does it in fact, work out.

[@garnetnard4284]

This is the best Auntie Donna skit I’ve ever seen.

[@nomercyinc6783]

racing supercross is a choice. nobody HAS to do it. they do it because its their passion. yall chose that life

[@Rob_Bernabe]

Great video. If you think about the risk to get there in the first place - and the pay for all but the top - it’s not worth it. It’s ridiculous - might as well be a gladiator and be fed to the lions to get it all over with. Love our sport - but not what it does to these riders.

[@jackreacher2095]

Welcome to life fellas . This is reality for 99.9999999 percent of society . Doing shit that isn't fun to make ends meet

[@MrKips1]

The powers that be know that when a rider gets injured, there is a bunch of young bucks just chomping at the bit for a ride. Personally, sx riders really do some amazing stuff, but there is so much good vintage, super evo etc racing out there now, it's quite often more entertaining.

[@Das_Ginger]

World Cup Downhill MTB riders have 7-8 major races per year. The stakes are super high for each race, so they have to put everything into the event, but if they get seriously hurt they have a legit 4-6 month offseason to recover. Most of them want more races (10-12 seems like the perceived ideal). But going flat-out, elbow-to-elbow, for 10 months per year seems completely unsustainable. Seems like a big event once or twice a month is the sweet spot, with smaller regional events in between if the racers want more. It would allow more time for travel and recovery, and would probably lead to better racing because the athletes could be in better condition.

[@AlienAI-69]

No respawn on dirtbikes for sure. My last race I was ran over four times on my head. I was the only one walked away not injured.

[@Papparratzi]

Hearing this cast makes me appreciate the Old Schoolers that drove across the country in their Vans, slept in them, all for a beer budget reward. You guys are complaining about having to fly and sleep in a hotel bed. Damned, get some wine and cheese sponsors for your teardrop soaked pillows.

[@ML-lg4ky]

Part Of me says “man up you pussies”. Then another part says “I couldn’t do that either “… Tough life

[@wayde4192]

Mid - season break ( possibly two) . No ride /testing rule mandatory. Works in other sports . Understand the financial implications, however the gain is longevity of the stars .

[@clutchitsystems100]

Epinephrine is adrenaline. Not recommended for repetitive usage. The starting gate was my adrenaline dump! LOL.

[@thumpertx1]

Something that could help is go back to how 2021 was. Making multi race stops in one city for supercross. Cut down on the travel year to year. The down side does limit the cities that are raced each year, however that can be resolved kind of by rotating certain cities on a yearly basis.

[@craigmccall7450]

Maybe the pro moto will split. Something like Nascar with the different series deals... I don't know how Nascar works, but not all the pros doing all the rac. Phil, come race NGPC (AMA BIG 6) or WORCS, . . .you'll be busy!

[@markmontgomery2562]

Phil is a bad ass.

[@nickdougherty3528]

It is ridiculous they need more time to rest and enjoy. They need multiple series in one year it is not dependent on them making it to the next. I do want to see the best versus the best it could be simply at triple crown style formats

[@kendoi628]

Love "Keep it real Phil"

[@TheNickademas1]

“Chiushsday” what? Tuesday hahahaha

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

Not familiar with Aussies, Brits or South Africans? They say that. The don't 'tune' their musical instruments either, they "chune" them.

[@cleanmachineautodetailing]

Don’t forget the er at the end of everything that ends in a. Jett on the honder on meteor day.

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

@@cleanmachineautodetailing Especially if the word after the A vowel also begins using some vowel, an example, "I saw him do that." Would be more like, "I sawr 'im do that." vs, "I saw her do that." Would be the same as written. You just did it yourself, Honda(er) ON Media day. "On" begins with a vowel, that's when that R slips in there. But he wouldn't say Media(er) day because day is a consonant. Accents are weird, but the patterns are noticeable if you're an Autist like me lol!

[@cleanmachineautodetailing]

@@djjazzyjeff1232 all accents are fake lol

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

@@cleanmachineautodetailing Right, that's why we all sound the same. Wait..

[@phat-kw9ox]

Come build houses 12 hrs a day and work weekends if your behind if you think that will be better for ya

[@sexatica]

You aren't risking your life doing that every day

[@phat-kw9ox]

@@sexatica guess you never walked across trusses 30 ft in the air

[@jamescox4823]

@@sexaticabs

[@cknorris3644]

@@sexatica I guarantee there have been WAY MORE deaths on constructions sites than there have in MX.

[@perc3136]

@@sexatica you do risk your life in construction dummy

[@dominocweber9763]

It is ridiculous that there are 31 races a year and that these athletes have such a tight schedule like they do and I feel for them but, There are middle class citizens who work that same sort of schedule for a lot less money and not to mention they are not riding dirt bikes to make money. There is a lot worse things they could be doing with their careers. I have mad respect for these bad asses and I envy them. I would dream about that lifestyle as a kid only for my dreams to never come true due to lack of money to keep up with the sport and injuries that still plague me today because I did not have the financial means to see top doctors and surgeons. Now I am an old man that works as an engineer and lives through his kids. But I still manage to do a handful of motos and a handful of desert races per year.

[@The08450]

Sounds like the supercross only contracts are the future!

[@rippinaroundeverywhere9249]

There's always the option of selling parts at the local Honda dealer

[@originalschmid]

Why Epinephrine bottle on the thumb nail?

[@GYPSYTALES]

Adrenaline

[@originalschmid]

@@GYPSYTALES ah. Watching the video, zero mention of PEDs (or maybe I missed it), so I failed to see the connection. Content is mint though, wished I could get it on Stitcher

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

@@originalschmid Adrenaline exists naturally within the body, doing gnarly/dangerous things (like racing moto) dumps adrenaline, about halfway through Phil was talking about being basically addicted to Adrenaline and when you quit racing you "scratch your neck" just like a tweaker or something. Hopefully that clarifies the connection!

[@3uvakind126]

It must stink to be a pro athlete and have to cry about how you're flying to these amazing events to make money to do what you love... Nobody twists your arm to be there and as much as I love Motocross and I love the Riders and I want them to stay healthy as a fan I am more than glad to watch all these races

[@howey935]

Doesn’t matter how comfortable you are whilst travelling it’s still tiring. Personally I only get a good nights sleep in my own bed.

[@Texastrailrider]

MX is to F1 as Trucking is to MX. Talk about a job with travel, burnout and lack of pay or luxury. I know it's different when you're in the industry and living it but my sympathy is right where Major Payne said it was.

[@zacharysmith7872]

The rules that prevent riding, like they implement in road racing, would help a lot.

[@PinkuStyle]

haha Jocko Wilink would say "Good!"

[@abpob6052]

These are the issues you get when a sport becomes so popular it gets a tv audience. It's a catch 22.

[@johnnyknight614]

I can’t go a month with out racing and I can’t go a day with out riding but I’ve raced my whole life though.

[@deanfloyd8931]

Participation is a choice.

[@erikklumpp3464]

people dealing in high stress situations, with adrenaline, let's introduce more chemicals to people already predisposed to creating reactions in their brains, straight line to addiction. Fuck that. I hope the riders unionize.

[@cvdavis]

Racers need to do motocross or Supercross only contracts. This came about because they didn't want the new Supercross competitor series to become viable and cut into their business.

[@jacobshred67]

i want to go on a shroom trip with filthy phil and watch the show squidbillies

[@HillDogTV]

good one

[@ScottSmith-jn1jo]

I say cut the SX schedule in half!

[@_derekkelley]

Living the dream 🤣

[@Demstaal]

But then I was never Happier Driving in my Loaded Van Sometimes alone to a Race ! 😂

[@sambuvca22]

Look at the scars on Phils arms. Thats MOTO

[@overthehillmx5667]

I get and agree but at the same time the dangers of the sport is nobody’s fault but your own for choosing to do it no one is forcing you you don’t hear every day riders crying about getting hurt that is what used to draw people to our sport the danger the risk reward you just might not be meant for it mentally you don’t hear Travis Pastrana crying about all his injuries the only ones who cry are the ones who aren’t successful

[@GYPSYTALES]

It’s like saying “so what man, cars are dangerous… ok we could make them safer by putting air bags and seat belts in them, but the only ones complaining are the ones that actually crash”.

[@keithclarke5137]

Didn't travis say all the training and racing was starting to get to him when he was racing right before that massive crash he had?

[@overthehillmx5667]

And people don’t drive cars if they think they’re too dangerous they walk or ride bicycles we could go tit for tat over this but let’s just be real it takes a certain amount of balls to reach certain levels not everybody is equipped. Any champion will tell you they were willing to die in any sport to be a champion that’s what separates winners and losers can’t change the rules because you lose that’s not winning but regardless love channel man. just believe people have to understand certain things are dangerous no matter what you change. motocross is one of them until you put that person in a bubble it never will be safe look how far sport has come in safety

[@waynegarfield6607]

I think you are missing the point. The only riders making big money are the top factory stars who win championships. The payout from the AMA is a joke. However in order to get to the level of making serious money the training needed is the same if not more than the factory guys. Between the travel time and money spent, eqp / parts / riding gear spent, race bike, practice bike etc ....ride time on a SX track that is a MUST ....100% risk vs NO reward ....Race series SX plus MX 3/ 4 of the year. .. the topic and complaint here is ......The amount of time , money and physical RISK needed to be a pro rider that unless the top 10 in Country do NOT earn the money they deserve while sacrificing Time, money and their physical well being. In short like they have said. . The risk is beginning to NOT be worth the Reward....

[@SuperSayinSolidSnek]

@@waynegarfield6607 then don't do it, get a real job and race for a hobby like almost everyone else.

[@chrisvillarreal2752]

This was me 6 months ago on the hospital bed 😂 4 broken ribs, cut liver, and torn back fascia… back on the bike thank God but so much risk

[@austinsonger388]

Plain and simple all other athletes take a back seat to top tier moto riders!!! Period!

[@twinpackpower]

Wow, Such a hard life doing what you love for a living which was your choice bro, complaining about flying commercial, long work weeks...try getting a real job and the real struggle to make ends meet....not a good look here boys...You dont know what a grind is.

[@mattdecandia9607]

It's why Eli is only doing Supercross, he's got 2 more outdoor championships in him .

[@eaglemx45]

Respawn after body flys 80ft into the dirt. I wish!!! 😂

[@halvorsonmx]

Dudes bitching that hes living the dream lmao. Most ppl work 40 hrs a week all year round at a job they hate and he's bitching cause he only gets like 2 months a year off.

[@koltonbarney]

You’ve probably never regularly traveled for work dude.

[@michaelvickers1202]

True you never hear coal miners squealing like little bitches about work being hard!

[@waynegarfield6607]

If your employer asked you to go away every weekend for 9 months, asked you to practice your skill set on your off time every other day. Stay in excellent physical condition / refrain from anu drinking, drugs, late nights , eating junk food, and made you so unsafe at the workplace that one mistake causes broken bones, concussions and flirting with parylazation every working moment....all for not more money annually than you make now....say 75k a year.......Does that sound like a good deal to you or would say to your bossman....i deserve either more money or more time .....???? Most of the riders on an AMA gate dont make more than in the regular 9to 5 world. The top 10 in each class make a lot and top 3 maybe millions...the bottom 30% also work for a living.... Racing MX and SX is not at the pay level it deserve. ..very unfortunatley

[@michaelvickers1202]

@@waynegarfield6607 2/3 of the world lives on 3 dollars a day motorcycle racers are very privileged relatively if your pissin and moaning about money your probably not that good at it and that hurts but the truth normally does.

[@halvorsonmx]

@@waynegarfield6607 I understand his argument. But nobody makes him race professional mx or sx. Let's be honest it's like MMA. The lower tier athletes don't make good money when you consider managers cut, gyms cut of the purse and taxes. They're left with hardly anything and they train their ass off too. The thing is though if he hates it so much why doesn't he either A. get better results which will elevate him to better pay and equipment or B. Find a different job? And another factor to consider is his team is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars just to get him to every event they want him at. The injuries suck but there are ALOT of professional mx or sx riders that make most every race without injuries. We could argue this all day. If I went to my employer being in a right to work state and said you pay me more or give me more time off theyd fire my ass.

[@cknorris3644]

The new generation complains about everything and no matter how much money they make its never enough.

[@cruisinspecialtiesllc6104]

The solution is to have two to three races a week and complete the Supercross and Motocross season in less than 20 weeks. They'll never do it

[@MX-CO]

The evolution of the bikes has gone to far they are to good imo. They need to make tight corners and other things to slow the pace down imo for the safety if the riders!

[@zacharyradford5552]

Should have taken time off to be a roofer or ditch digger like Christian Craig give you whole new appreciation.

[@lizzydog5728]

THE REASON WE RIDE DIRTBIKES IS 100% FOR THE THRILL! WHAT ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT? WTF

[@foch3]

We need dope motorcycle sims.

[@coolbigrigs]

Many points made - however each ends in contradiction. 😬

[@Demstaal]

And I always thought because they have sweet Motor home at the Races they have it made 😂 Maybe 1% fly private jets if that !

[@dukedoker8899]

two words,Riders Union.

[@jarredtremain4644]

Bring back a rule of stock 2stroke dirtbikes so everyone sees who's the best rider really. Make rule of so many practice days and give blokes 2 too 3 week breaks between certain rounds. It will bring back the fun to both riders and spectators. At end of season make rule you can drop worst result. Avagud1

[@nicholaszamelis9471]

I’m not sure whether to be honored that my home county was mentioned on my favorite podcast, or offended that it was referred to as a s**thole…. Just kidding I know it’s mostly a s**thole. Gotta come stay in Cooperstown on race weekend boys!

[@bigbean69420]

Just yesterday yall were talking about how there needs to be MORE races. Now today there needs to be LESS races? okay..... supercross is the only sport where the riders and teams continuously push for gnarlier and more dangerous tracks, and then complain about how demanding and dangerous it is. They want more pay, but want to race less and risk themselves less. Make it make sense. Car racing is different, because they actually work to minimize the risks on each track. Supercross, their goal seems to make it as dangerous as possible, and if you make a single mistake you're breaking bones. I want to see RACING, i dont care how far you're jumping or the fact that if you come up short on a quad, you're dead. Make them all tabletops i dont care, and I don't think im alone here.

[@MotoMatt418]

When have you ever seen a rider or team demand for more dangerous and gnarly tracks?..

[@justlucky8254]

We must constantly meet completely different riders. I've yet to meet a single pro, or really any level racer, who's demanding gnarlier tracks with more danger. Who's been telling you that?

[@dustin9035]

It’s all about the money fellas.

[@teddygunzbarno2102]

So quick story true story Phil's dad stole money from his job to get Phil to LLR he came from nothing I remember see him sleeping in the back of an old box track it's crazy out of all the riders from district 34 in NY he some what made it

[@robstratton9042]

Not many people know or remember that about his dad You must be pretty local to sullivan county like i am

[@jordanwhisson5407]

Point your finger directly at Feld who simply doesn’t care about the sport or the riders or the fans it’s just money to them.

[@djjazzyjeff1232]

I could see how you might think that, but they do dozens of events every year that all go off without a hitch, even during nasty weather. They deserve criticism, but what you said is frankly just silliness.

[@MichelleHell]

They see the riders as billboard's. The entire sport is propped up by all these automotive companies. If the economy is in a rough patch, they'll put you all to work. What else are you going to do, give up your passion? That's how they turn your passion into servitude.

[@mickpentoney2172]

Unfortunately, the promoters of professional moto and sx, here and abroad , have shows like gypsy tales, pulpmx, and a couples others to know the riders in the industry are well - not well represented. They know at best a pro rider has 16 - 28 yrs of age to make money then done. I love to race, ride, compete - like an addict Phil says. But then “ its insane the season is now Jan to Oct.”. . We dont make a lot of money- pay us more- he says. Your options and these are the best options pros have ever had. Top talent race a lot from 16-28 and retire and never really work hard again. Option 2 - 16-28 work hard manage your money really wisely and hardly work - part time - the rest of your life. Option 3- work hard have a great experience and network and work good jobs from 30 to retire. Those are all good options for 40 to 50 dudes in a sport a not much bigger than surfing.

[@quintbetts4703]

The F bombs Not needed

[@Mike_HuntizWet]

Calm down

[@DinoAungpe]

The harsh reality of motocross racing

[@akatgif]

It's beyond a quagmire when the Riders have to pay entry fees at Supercross. Supercross for the athletes is one of the worst forms of Entrepreneurship.

[@justinainsworth1567]

Phil’s awesome

[@spidedar]

Everybody loves riding, but there is a huge requirement to do the publicity thing. The ideal solution would have your own team in a system where their isnt a huge drain on your time. Thats the ultimate, but not realistic. One of Casey stoners reasons for riding was the demand for his time working foe the sponsers