Just one last rumor I just heard. Ben Spies isnt going to get the factory ride he wanted for MotoGP. Last word is he is going to be racing Yamaha in world superbike next year with a chance to race MotoGP for Yamaha if he does good in WSB. Its going to be an interesting year for him. I guess now I'll have to start watching WSB.. that was the only race series I didnt watch..lol..

there was some speculation that he was told he needed to place 3rd in order for Suzuki to pick him up for the GP ride. He placed 5th, higher than any other Suzuki rider, but it wasnt good enough. he had offers from other rides for MotoGP, but not factory backed.

 

Yeah looks like he's getting Haga's ride and if he can perform he will be penned in for Colin Edwards ride with Tech3. Rumors are that he priced himself out of Motogp, wanting 2 million for his rookie season.

 

^^^ Yes, that is what I heard, too. Seems silly to price yourself out of a ride...

 

Apparently AMA pays better than Motogp.

 

ah, I hadnt heard of the pricing thing. It doesnt make sense to do that if that is his life long goal as he states. But, if he feels he is worth it, who knows. I guess if it were me and I had that kind of talent, I was going to get a ride in motogp which was my goal, and the only offer I was getting was on a subpar team that I wouldnt beable to win with... I might ask for a ton of money to make it worth my while.

But 2 million does seem a bit high... I guess I dont know what these guys even make.. anyone?

I seriously would have thought around 200,000 a year from the factory and then money from sponsors... but I had no idea they made that kind of money. either way.. thats a lot of money for a 3 day work week...

 

Obviously this is a "i heard thread" lol, but I heard or read somewhere(can't remember) that rossi cleared somewhere in the 3 million area last year. I can't imagine why not with all the sponsors and what not that it wouldn't be possible, but spies askin for 2mill, the guys talented but he's no rossi nor do I think he'll ever be.

 

^i believe rossi makes somewhere around 35 million a year. not sure if that includes endorsements. it must though right? surely yamaha doesn't fork out 35mil in salary to rossi alone.


yea, found it.
From wikipedia but quoting SI: "According to Sports Illustrated, Valentino Rossi is one of the highest earning sports personalities in the world, having earned an estimated $34 million in 2007.[2]"

edit: More wikipedia info regarding Rossi's switch from Honda to Yamaha in 04: "Ultimately, Rossi signed a two-year contract with rivals Yamaha reportedly worth in excess of (U.S) $12 million; a price no other manufacturer, even Honda, was willing to pay."

So that's 6mil a year for 04 and 05. I would assume they have bumped his salary up to more than that in the past few years. Suffice it to say... he's a rich man.