| Motocross racers of | | | | to win and win often is much more likely in auto |
| today are valuable athletes. The physical strains | | | | racing at this point in their life than on a |
| on a motocross racer's body are unmatched. | | | | motocross bike. |
| The value of a motocross or motorcycle racer | | | | Auto racing teams are |
| has been evident in the last 5-10 years due to the | | | | million dollar businesses that have layer after layer |
| amount of 2-wheeled racers that are recruited | | | | of management and employees. Many life time |
| into the four wheel ranks. A professional 2 | | | | auto racers may find it confusing why a race |
| wheeled racer is rarely over the age of thirty. On | | | | team would select an ex-motocross racer with |
| the other hand, a 4 wheel racer can still be | | | | little to no 4 wheel racing experience instead of a |
| competitive into their mid- forties and even fifties. | | | | veteran four wheel racer. It's about the money. |
| Pro motocross racers are attractive to large auto | | | | Top motocross racers bring sponsors with them. |
| racing teams because they already have a large | | | | Whether its motocross apparel, energy drinks, |
| following of fans as well as loyal sponsors. | | | | champion motocross racers bring money that a |
| There is a long list of ex | | | | hot new auto racer cannot match. Stock Car |
| motorcycle professionals that are now competing | | | | racer Eric Holmes has won the NASCAR West |
| in professional auto racing. Here are a few | | | | Regional Championship twice won countless major |
| examples. Travis Pastrana; motocross and | | | | west coast races including NASCARS Toyota |
| freestyle motocross champion now driving Rally | | | | All-Star Challenge. Eric has not competed in |
| Cars for team Subaru America. Rickey | | | | NASCAR's top 3 divisions like Ricky Carmichael |
| Carmichael; GOAT (Greatest of all Time) of | | | | has. Why? Ricky brings support of Monster |
| motocross now driving full time in NASCAR | | | | Energy Drinks with him. Eric cannot boast the |
| Camping World Truck Series. Brian Deegan; | | | | same support. Monster Energy bought Rickey |
| freestyle motocross pioneer now a regular on the | | | | time to learn to compete at a high level. |
| Lucas Oil Off-Road Series. Jeff Ward one of the | | | | Something few top regional racers can bring. |
| first transplants from motocross to 4 wheels | | | | Popular motocross |
| nearly won the Indy 500 in 1997. All great | | | | racers will always have a place in auto racing's top |
| motocross athletes that have moved on to 4 | | | | division because of their experience at marketing's |
| wheel racing. | | | | top level, the money they can bring with them, |
| Travis Pastrana is now | | | | and the fact that they have already |
| age 26, Carmichael 30, Deegan 34, and Ward 48. | | | | demonstrated top level commitment to |
| All these racers deemed old men by today's pro | | | | excellence. This does not mean that two wheel |
| motocross standards but able to be competitive | | | | racers will make new young auto racers an |
| for years to come in auto racing. Not to say that | | | | endangered species. In tough economic times it is |
| these guys could not win a motocross | | | | hard to find a company willing to spend millions on |
| competition today. For example, Jeff Ward in his | | | | an unknown rookie. When a rookie already has, |
| 40s won the AMA supermoto championship. | | | | money, fans, and proven success, it's hard for a |
| Pastrana and Carmichael still make appearances at | | | | race team not to choose experience over |
| the X-Games on motocross bikes. Take nothing | | | | potential. |
| away from these guys on a bike, but their ability | | | | |