Top 10 highest paid riders

povol · Mar 28, 2014

http://www.therichest.com/sports/racing-sports/top-10-highest-paid-motogp-riders-in-2014/

A few things that are hard to beleive.

First off, i would have thought both Dovi and Crutchlow would be making considerably more than 1-1.2 million

Second, Nicky getting 4 million a year is hard to beleive

Third, Rossi getting a higher salary than Lorenzo, im not buying it. Im not disputing what Rossi may or may not make per year, but find it hard to beleive that Yamaha would alienate their future to get an aging has been back in the fold.

One funny observation, Honda got the riders and manufacturers championship for less than half the salaries Yamaha paid, that is if these figures are true

shovelhead · Mar 28, 2014

Last year, Lorenzo was getting 900 euros from HJC to wear their helmet

Rossi was around 1 million Euros for his helmet deal

Jumkie · Mar 28, 2014

I doubt these figures are "salaries" only, but perhaps combined with sponsorship deals. In one telecast, the commentators said Bradl wasn't drawing one cent in "salary" but was being paid solely on sponsorship. I'm pretty sure VR makes way more on sponsorship than whatever Dorna is paying him.

elitemafia · Mar 28, 2014

Yeah, those must be combined income figures.. No way Yamaha is paying Lorenzo and Rossi that much....

povol · Mar 28, 2014

Jumkie

3717431396031659

I doubt these figures are "salaries" only, but perhaps combined with sponsorship deals. In one telecast, the commentators said Bradl wasn't drawing one cent in "salary" but was being paid solely on sponsorship. I'm pretty sure VR makes way more on sponsorship than whatever Dorna is paying him.

Yea,all money to them is salary it seems, but if you beleive the article, Yamaha is paying Rossi 12 million compared to Yamaha paying Lorenzo 7.2 million. I cant imagine Lorenzo, coming off of his 2nd world championship, would stand for Yamaha bringing Rossi back in and paying him close to 5 million more a year. You hear rumors about Dorna subsidizing his salary but as far as i know, that has never been confirmed.

rezonator636 · Mar 28, 2014

My impressons from this list:

1) Compared to F1 drivers, these guys are working for peanuts.

2) If Nicky really is getting paid $4M a year (which is possible, given his popularity, especially with sponsors), it's no wonder he fought to stay in MotoGP rather than take a massive paycut to go to World Superbike.

3) MM's paycheck will triple (if not quadruple) when the time comes to negotiate his next contract.

4) I've heard these pay numbers for Jorge and Vale before, and it wouldn't surprise me if Dorna was subsidizing Vale's salary; they have every reason to try and keep him in the series, and on a competitive bike. Whether he's past it or not, he's still (by far) the most recognizable motorcycle racer in the world, and draws viewership (something Dorna desperately needs now that they've gone to a pay TV format in so many countries).

And...

5) Getting paid $1M to ride a Ducati seems kinda low.

povol · Mar 28, 2014

rezonator636

3717461396033459

My impressons from this list:

1) Compared to F1 drivers, these guys are working for peanuts.

2) If Nicky really is getting paid $4M a year (which is possible, given his popularity, especially with sponsors), it's no wonder he fought to stay in MotoGP rather than take a massive paycut to go to World Superbike.

3) MM's paycheck will triple (if not quadruple) when the time comes to negotiate his next contract.

4) I've heard these pay numbers for Jorge and Vale before, and it wouldn't surprise me if Dorna was subsidizing Vale's salary; they have every reason to try and keep him in the series, and on a competitive bike. Whether he's past it or not, he's still (by far) the most recognizable motorcycle racer in the world, and draws viewership (something Dorna desperately needs now that they've gone to a pay TV format in so many countries).

And...

5) Getting paid $1M to ride a Ducati seems kinda low.

Compared to F1, Moto Gp generates peanuts

GP generates around 200 million in revenue, F1 generates around 1.5 billion in revenue. If you look at those figures, the top drivers in F1 should be making roughly 7 times the money of Moto GP riders. I remember a few years back, an article stated that Moto GP drew 300 million viewers per race worldwide, compared to 600 million viewers for F1 per race, but only generated 1/7 of the revenue instead of half. No doubt those figures were a big reason for GP going to pay channels instead of free TV.

Jumkie · Mar 28, 2014

povol

3717451396032991

You hear rumors about Dorna subsidizing his salary but as far as i know, that has never been confirmed.

You're actually right, as it was Kropo who swore it was so. Ha!

Though Pov, are you aware certain facts omitted (by design) from official press releases don't mean they cease to exist?

I remember a few years back, an article stated that Moto GP drew 300 million viewers per race worldwide...

And that number just dramatically dropped thanks to Dorna/BT deal.

Duc999 · Mar 28, 2014

Reading the article closely, some guys are quoted receiving salary while others are quoted receiving a $$$ amount per year.

That's a huge difference. I doubt very much that YRC is paying Rossi more than Jorge. But the number is correct for Rossi making $35MM

Typical news media. Use the facts to make them mean what you want.

rezonator636 · Mar 28, 2014

povol

3717471396035800

Compared to F1, Moto Gp generates peanuts

GP generates around 200 million in revenue, F1 generates around 1.5 billion in revenue. If you look at those figures, the top drivers in F1 should be making roughly 7 times the money of Moto GP riders. I remember a few years back, an article stated that Moto GP drew 300 million viewers per race worldwide, compared to 600 million viewers for F1 per race, but only generated 1/7 of the revenue instead of half. No doubt those figures were a big reason for GP going to pay channels instead of free TV.

I get the economics behind it, but it still feels like most of these guys are getting underpaid, given the level at which they ride and the risks they take. And Dorna's reasoning for going to pay channels has been outlined before-they need the revenue streams, because the big sponsorship just isn't there. It's just a shame that these guys are putting on some incredibly entertaining races, and hardly anyone is watching.

povol · Mar 28, 2014

rezonator636

3717531396056185

I get the economics behind it, but it still feels like most of these guys are getting underpaid, given the level at which they ride and the risks they take. And Dorna's reasoning for going to pay channels has been outlined before-they need the revenue streams, because the big sponsorship just isn't there. It's just a shame that these guys are putting on some incredibly entertaining races, and hardly anyone is watching.

They have plenty of people watching. 300 million is a huge number, more than the NFL and any other sport not named F1 and soccer. They just are not converting that viewership to revenue. This would be where Lex would have some insight on why. Whoever negotiates their tv deal should be .... canned, it sucks compared to other sports with similar viewership.

povol · Mar 28, 2014

Jumkie

3717481396042527

You're actually right, as it was Kropo who swore it was so. Ha!

Though Pov, are you aware certain facts omitted (by design) from official press releases don't mean they cease to exist?

And that number just dramatically dropped thanks to Dorna/BT deal.

But will revenue rise drastically, im going to guess it will.

rezonator636 · Mar 28, 2014

povol

3717541396057920

They have plenty of people watching. 300 million is a huge number, more than the NFL and any other sport not named F1 and soccer. They just are not converting that viewership to revenue. This would be where Lex would have some insight on why. Whoever negotiates their tv deal should be .... canned, it sucks compared to other sports with similar viewership.

That viewership number is a bit of a mirage, in my opinion. The big difference between the NFL and MotoGP in terms of viewership is that the NFL's viewers are all in the US, which is one of the most affluent markets in the world, where MotoGP's biggest markets are in developing countries, where there isn't a whole lot of disposable income floating around. Malaysia is one of the sport's biggest markets, but it's not a market that's desirable to advertisers, which is why the TV revenue isn't there. If just one third of that 300M viewership was in the US, MotoGP would instantly become one of the richest sports leagues in the world.

What Dorna needs is a Chinese version of Marc Marquez. You get a Chinese rider challenging for the world championship, and MotoGP's viewership would double (at least), with a huge foothold in one of the world's most important markets.

povol · Mar 28, 2014

rezonator636

3717571396061586

That viewership number is a bit of a mirage, in my opinion. The big difference between the NFL and MotoGP in terms of viewership is that the NFL's viewers are all in the US, which is one of the most affluent markets in the world, where MotoGP's biggest markets are in developing countries, where there isn't a whole lot of disposable income floating around. Malaysia is one of the sport's biggest markets, but it's not a market that's desirable to advertisers, which is why the TV revenue isn't there. If just one third of that 300M viewership was in the US, MotoGP would instantly become one of the richest sports leagues in the world.

What Dorna needs is a Chinese version of Marc Marquez. You get a Chinese rider challenging for the world championship, and MotoGP's viewership would double (at least), with a huge foothold in one of the world's most important markets.

That makes a lot of sense, but most of F1's biggest tv markets are the same as GP's. Neither is very popular in the states

Hayden Fan · Mar 31, 2014

rezonator636

3717571396061586

What Dorna needs is a Chinese version of Marc Marquez. You get a Chinese rider challenging for the world championship, and MotoGP's viewership would double (at least), with a huge foothold in one of the world's most important markets.

Is that truly good for the sport though? I mean, all we are talking about is making rich people richer. Won't improve the sport one bit. So what if there is a race in China. Dorna, or whoever is running MotoGP isn't looking out for what is best for the series. It is about making money. The television packages in Europe are proof of that. "Let's lose a solid chunk of viewership for a t.v. package that'll make us "x" millions of Euros more!"

But, at least when it comes to advertisement dollars, I am on board for giving these riders their money. There riding a motorcycle at speeds at one parts of a track that even an F1 car cannot do. Why? At the end of the day, it is for our entertainment. They are truly modern day gladiators, and if a helmet company wants to give a rider a million Euros for their logo on a helmet of a rider, so ....... be it.

rezonator636 · Mar 31, 2014

Hayden Fan

3717681396298785

Is that truly good for the sport though? I mean, all we are talking about is making rich people richer. Won't improve the sport one bit. So what if there is a race in China. Dorna, or whoever is running MotoGP isn't looking out for what is best for the series. It is about making money. The television packages in Europe are proof of that. "Let's lose a solid chunk of viewership for a t.v. package that'll make us "x" millions of Euros more!"

But, at least when it comes to advertisement dollars, I am on board for giving these riders their money. There riding a motorcycle at speeds at one parts of a track that even an F1 car cannot do. Why? At the end of the day, it is for our entertainment. They are truly modern day gladiators, and if a helmet company wants to give a rider a million Euros for their logo on a helmet of a rider, so ....... be it.

That's a good point. If MotoGP took off in China, it would certainly put more money in Dorna's pockets, but the actual sport may not improve one iota. The hope would be that the Chinese market would bring lucrative sponsorship to the series, which in turn would negate the need to go to pay TV, as the lack of sponsorship is the supposed reason Dorna has gone to a pay TV model in the first place. Maybe such a thing would lead to higher salaries for the riders. Wishful thinking on my part, though.

And I'm fully on board with riders getting paid what they get. MotoGP riders remind me of American football players; short careers (for many, though not all), surgeries nearly every year, concussions, and the like, all in the name of entertainment. And, like most American football players, they don't get nearly the pay as their counterparts in other leagues. Again, I understand the economics behind both pay structures, but it still doesn't feel right that a man sitting on the back of a 220-mph missile is only getting paid a million dollars a year. Although Isle of Man TT riders would be quite happy to be so "underpaid", I'm sure.

Keshav · Apr 3, 2014

rezonator636

3717571396061586

That viewership number is a bit of a mirage, in my opinion. The big difference between the NFL and MotoGP in terms of viewership is that the NFL's viewers are all in the US, which is one of the most affluent markets in the world, where MotoGP's biggest markets are in developing countries, where there isn't a whole lot of disposable income floating around. Malaysia is one of the sport's biggest markets, but it's not a market that's desirable to advertisers, which is why the TV revenue isn't there. If just one third of that 300M viewership was in the US, MotoGP would instantly become one of the richest sports leagues in the world.

What Dorna needs is a Chinese version of Marc Marquez. You get a Chinese rider challenging for the world championship, and MotoGP's viewership would double (at least), with a huge foothold in one of the world's most important markets.

Keshav · Apr 3, 2014

rezonator636

3717691396301499

That's a good point. If MotoGP took off in China, it would certainly put more money in Dorna's pockets, but the actual sport may not improve one iota. The hope would be that the Chinese market would bring lucrative sponsorship to the series, which in turn would negate the need to go to pay TV, as the lack of sponsorship is the supposed reason Dorna has gone to a pay TV model in the first place. Maybe such a thing would lead to higher salaries for the riders. Wishful thinking on my part, though.

And I'm fully on board with riders getting paid what they get. MotoGP riders remind me of American football players; short careers (for many, though not all), surgeries nearly every year, concussions, and the like, all in the name of entertainment. And, like most American football players, they don't get nearly the pay as their counterparts in other leagues. Again, I understand the economics behind both pay structures, but it still doesn't feel right that a man sitting on the back of a 220-mph missile is only getting paid a million dollars a year. Although Isle of Man TT riders would be quite happy to be so "underpaid", I'm sure.

Maybe not such a good idea. Ever seen statistics on Chinese car accident rates? No joke. Bad enough with the number of Chinese maimed or killed in car or scooter accidents. Making superbikes popular in China would be like handing out AK47s to a bunch of 6 year-olds on Ritalin. I have a Chinese mechanic buddy who posts hundreds of videos of Chinese traffic crashes on a scooter site every year and he says what's out there to be seen isn't even the tip of tip of tip of the iceberg.

steeeeeve · Apr 4, 2014

Keshav

3717781396580001

Maybe not such a good idea. Ever seen statistics on Chinese car accident rates? No joke. Bad enough with the number of Chinese maimed or killed in car or scooter accidents. Making superbikes popular in China would be like handing out AK47s to a bunch of 6 year-olds on Ritalin. I have a Chinese mechanic buddy who posts hundreds of videos of Chinese traffic crashes on a scooter site every year and he says what's out there to be seen isn't even the tip of tip of tip of the iceberg.

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<p style="margin-left:0px;In the 1970's the Japanese (unable to produce weapons) made the Yamaha RD350 and shipped them to America in order to kill as many young American men as possible.

rezonator636 · Apr 4, 2014

Keshav

3717781396580001

Maybe not such a good idea. Ever seen statistics on Chinese car accident rates? No joke. Bad enough with the number of Chinese maimed or killed in car or scooter accidents. Making superbikes popular in China would be like handing out AK47s to a bunch of 6 year-olds on Ritalin. I have a Chinese mechanic buddy who posts hundreds of videos of Chinese traffic crashes on a scooter site every year and he says what's out there to be seen isn't even the tip of tip of tip of the iceberg.

But the guy who survives all that must be pretty good on a motorbike, right?

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