Is this what you want?

[CHOPPA]

Came across this on facebook, I have been involved in MX and now Road Racing since I was 6 years old so im under no illusion as to the struggles it takes to get to the pointy end in just little old NZ. I also know pretty much every racer on a personal level that is professional or who has been professional in the last few decades and behind the flash gear and the shiney stickers there is a lot of pain and sacrifice that has gone into each and every one of them.

To make it to these sorts of levels you have to be willing to go to hell and back to get there then on top of that you have to be fast.

This is really worth a watch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si6nqubE3ME

[CHOPPA]

In some ways these guys could be called the lucky ones because they have actually 'made it' I bet theres thousands more stories worse than this for guys that are just behing these guys....

[codgyoleracer]

No comments about the "fun" aspect ?

They obviously cant resist the challenge that the sport provides - but when your riding soley for the reason of getting your next contract - then where the fun in that ?. if its not fun , then its "a job" & if you dont enjoy your job , then the answer is obvious.

Essentialy Its an addiction and the drive to punish yourself physically and financially is justified by the years of commitment and work put in beforehand.

BIG respect to them all

[CHOPPA]

No comments about the "fun" aspect ?

They obviously cant resist the challenge that the sport provides - but when your riding soley for the reason of getting your next contract - then where the fun in that ?. if its not fun , then its "a job" & if you dont enjoy your job , then the answer is obvious.

Essentialy Its an addiction and the drive to punish yourself physically and financially is justified by the years of commitment and work put in beforehand.

BIG respect to them all

Yes mate you hit the nail on the head, its a sport thats extremely addictive.

For these guys it is different though, it has become a job, this is there chosen trade and this is a good insight into what you have to expect if you are aiming to be a professional in this game.

I used to be pissed off my olds made me give up MX to do my trade because the injury toll was starting to add up, specially when the guys I was racing with like Coops, BT, Burga, Broxy were all starting there professional careers but as it turns out it was the best thing I could have done.

You dont see it much in road racing but at MX the amount of parents you see pouring all there money into the kids because they think they will be able to race professionally. My olds poured all there money into me but it was because thats what our family was all about. It was for the enjoyment not because they were trying to make me into a professional, I guess thats why I have never lost the passion

[onearmedbandit]

Awesome video choppa, cheers.

[roogazza]

The difference between loving bikes, riding and racing or just racing because you want a cup or your name on a title has always intrigued me.
I still get a buzz when I push that start button on a fine Sunday morning at 64.

[Shaun]

I still cannot figure it out, but it is an extremelly addictive sport that I love

[Quasievil]

Good Video, with the exception of Stroud I dont know of any pro racers in NZ tho we are amateur here .....................in every way

[scott411]

Yes mate you hit the nail on the head, its a sport thats extremely addictive.

For these guys it is different though, it has become a job, this is there chosen trade and this is a good insight into what you have to expect if you are aiming to be a professional in this game.

I used to be pissed off my olds made me give up MX to do my trade because the injury toll was starting to add up, specially when the guys I was racing with like Coops, BT, Burga, Broxy were all starting there professional careers but as it turns out it was the best thing I could have done.

You dont see it much in road racing but at MX the amount of parents you see pouring all there money into the kids because they think they will be able to race professionally. My olds poured all there money into me but it was because thats what our family was all about. It was for the enjoyment not because they were trying to make me into a professional, I guess thats why I have never lost the passion

i agree with ya Choppa, been around with a heap of mx boys for a long time, and was pissed i had to study or get a job and not go and hang out and try to make it in AUssie like a few of my freinds did on thier parents wallet, i know now that i got put on the right track, and i am much further along in life because of it, I never had the talent to make it big, and after watching that, and seeing what some of my friends that did have the talent have been though i am not sure i really missed out on much,

[DaveyJones]

I think that part at 12mins in what she says about comparing motorsport to other sports sums it all up. Apart from the crashing an injury side of it.

[steveyb]

Video of Red Bull rookies riders in Moto3.

Check out the young fulla at about 6m 30s. Luke Jameson from NZ.

https://www.redbullcontentpool.com/content/international/products/highlight_programme_dirty_50

[CHOPPA]

Video of Red Bull rookies riders in Moto3.

Check out the young fulla at about 6m 30s. Luke Jameson from NZ.

https://www.redbullcontentpool.com/content/international/products/highlight_programme_dirty_50

Not really the other side of the coin, more like a redbull promotional video but good watch regardless

[neil_cb125t]

I still cannot figure it out, but it is an extremely addictive sport that I love

Watching TT closer to the edge and listening to "milky" talk about it, the Milky who bounced off a wall during a TT race, and now shows the new riders around cause "he can't get that fix/buzz" summed it up pretty close. You'd def relate to that one shaun.... shows the 'hooks' that racing digs into us.

But I think for some, if not all of us, its more than an addiction, even for those who aren't chasing World titles (as much as id love one) I think its closer to a type of religion... now im not religious at all, but when you speak to those who are - they explain it with a passion that is un-matched, being the guy that I am I tend to put in a dig to see if they can explain this or that about their god, budda or what ever it is, and sometimes they put in attempt to answer it but usually they rest on, its what I believe in and im super happy about - even if I can't explain it or know why.

What would your answer be to the following question
"Isn't racing bikes dangerous, time consuming and really expensive??? so why do you do it.......???

[Paul in NZ]

and for every person at the top of the tree there are thousands of talentless pricks who work their guts out to be below average and you know what - thats OK too... In fact its probably mildly heroic. If you have nothing it doesnt seem much of a sacrifice but its all giving really...

[Shaun]

Watching TT closer to the edge and listening to "milky" talk about it, the Milky who bounced off a wall during a TT race, and now shows the new riders around cause "he can't get that fix/buzz" summed it up pretty close. You'd def relate to that one shaun.... shows the 'hooks' that racing digs into us.

But I think for some, if not all of us, its more than an addiction, even for those who aren't chasing World titles (as much as id love one) I think its closer to a type of religion... now im not religious at all, but when you speak to those who are - they explain it with a passion that is un-matched, being the guy that I am I tend to put in a dig to see if they can explain this or that about their god, budda or what ever it is, and sometimes they put in attempt to answer it but usually they rest on, its what I believe in and im super happy about - even if I can't explain it or know why.

What would your answer be to the following question
"Isn't racing bikes dangerous, time consuming and really expensive??? so why do you do it.......???




If I never started racing I would have become a proffesional criminal! Racing gave me a challenge, a focus and a goal and a life, love it more than most would be able to understand

[Edbear]

Watching TT closer to the edge and listening to "milky" talk about it, the Milky who bounced off a wall during a TT race, and now shows the new riders around cause "he can't get that fix/buzz" summed it up pretty close. You'd def relate to that one shaun.... shows the 'hooks' that racing digs into us.

But I think for some, if not all of us, its more than an addiction, even for those who aren't chasing World titles (as much as id love one) I think its closer to a type of religion... now im not religious at all, but when you speak to those who are - they explain it with a passion that is un-matched, being the guy that I am I tend to put in a dig to see if they can explain this or that about their god, budda or what ever it is, and sometimes they put in attempt to answer it but usually they rest on, its what I believe in and im super happy about - even if I can't explain it or know why.

What would your answer be to the following question
"Isn't racing bikes dangerous, time consuming and really expensive??? so why do you do it.......???

It probably comes under that rule, "If you have to ask..."

[Deano]

You only have to spend a few minutes in a pit garage post race to see why we do it.

The adrenalin is pumping hard, the racer is often speaking gibberish they are just so pumped up. It's awesome.

[neil_cb125t]

You only have to spend a few minutes in a pit garage post race to see why we do it.

The adrenalin is pumping hard, the racer is often speaking gibberish they are just so pumped up. It's awesome.

Racing totally - my wife has stopped coming to the meetings I attend, when I get home and say " oh you missed a great day at the track " She would say " I was there, in your garage, I said hi and everything " I must have been a little but too focussed.....:brick:

Its all the other stuff that goes with it, ,maybe its just us Kawaka F3 riders that spend hours and hours working on our bikes.......must be why they are faster:killingme

[BoristheBiter]

i agree with ya Choppa, been around with a heap of mx boys for a long time, and was pissed i had to study or get a job and not go and hang out and try to make it in AUssie like a few of my freinds did on thier parents wallet, i know now that i got put on the right track, and i am much further along in life because of it, I never had the talent to make it big, and after watching that, and seeing what some of my friends that did have the talent have been though i am not sure i really missed out on much,

I didn't start racing (enduro/XC) until a couple of years ago and the first thing I knew was I wasn't going to win. (i hadn't deluded myself i would)

The second was when you fall off you usually break you or the bike, sometimes both.
The bike is easy to fix as long as the money comes in and if I break me it won't so for that reason I stopped.

But this is like any major sport, a few at the top, a few not far behind, some given the right chance they will be up there and the rest that just won't cut it.

[willytheekid]

Great post Choppa :yes:

many thanks for sharing.

[steveyb]

Not really the other side of the coin, more like a redbull promotional video but good watch regardless

Yep, pretty much, but as you say, good watch.