Maria Costello seriously injured…

[Noggin]

Oh they do. Massive prize money. No prize money in BSB

Don’t think there’s that much prize money for most of the racers. They do it because they want to and it cost them all a lot of money

Maybe the top three get « decent » prize money, but I never heard that for the rest

The top earners from the 2025 prize pool included:Michael Dunlop: £63,500Davey Todd: £52,675Dean Harrison: £42,275

Ill bet many get paid for turning up by the organisers or teams.
In a sport with not a lot of earnings, its a fair bit of their yearly salary i bet.

Is it enough, well that's a whole different can of worms

Well damn. When I looked it up the share was no where near that much

My googlefoo is not good but this is what I found. But ok, it’s just one race. So I guess the bigger figures can be achieved with lots of wins?

Haven’t pushed google for money given to the less famous/not top ten guys.

But the guys I’ve known that raced there didn’t expect to be top ten and from what I knew they didn’t get a lot of money for being there - although tbf, I didn’t ask!!

[weeksy]

Don’t think there’s that much prize money for most of the racers. They do it because they want to and it cost them all a lot of money

Maybe the top three get « decent » prize money, but I never heard that for the rest

The top earners from the 2025 prize pool included:Michael Dunlop: £63,500Davey Todd: £52,675Dean Harrison: £42,275

Ill bet many get paid for turning up by the organisers or teams.
In a sport with not a lot of earnings, its a fair bit of their yearly salary i bet.

Is it enough, well that's a whole different can of worms

Well damn. When I looked it up the share was no where near that much

My googlefoo is not good but this is what I found. But ok, it’s just one race. So I guess the bigger figures can be achieved with lots of wins?

Haven’t pushed google for money given to the less famous/not top ten guys.

But the guys I’ve known that raced there didn’t expect to be top ten and from what I knew they didn’t get a lot of money for being there - although tbf, I didn’t ask!!

It's a fuck load more than the prize money for Downhill MTB that's for sure.

[Taipan]

The top earners from the 2025 prize pool included:Michael Dunlop: £63,500Davey Todd: £52,675Dean Harrison: £42,275

Ill bet many get paid for turning up by the organisers or teams.
In a sport with not a lot of earnings, its a fair bit of their yearly salary i bet.

Is it enough, well that's a whole different can of worms

Well damn. When I looked it up the share was no where near that much

My googlefoo is not good but this is what I found. But ok, it’s just one race. So I guess the bigger figures can be achieved with lots of wins?

Haven’t pushed google for money given to the less famous/not top ten guys.

But the guys I’ve known that raced there didn’t expect to be top ten and from what I knew they didn’t get a lot of money for being there - although tbf, I didn’t ask!!

It's a fuck load more than the prize money for Downhill MTB that's for sure.

Less interesting too!

[Horse]

My googlefoo is not good but this is what I found. But ok, it’s just one race. So I guess the bigger figures can be achieved with lots of wins?

Haven’t pushed google for money given to the less famous/not top ten guys.

Isle of Man TT riders do not receive a standard salary or fixed starting money just for entering. Instead, they rely on private sponsorships, manufacturer support, and race winnings.

Privateers and top stars finish well out of pocket unless they regularly place in the top positions or secure private backing.

Race Earnings & Prize Breakdown

While there is no blanket "start money," the Isle of Man Government offers prize money for the top-finishing riders in each race category.

For major classes, the prize payouts typically look like this:

Superbike TT (6 laps): The total prize fund pays down to 15th place, with the winner earning roughly £23,750.

Senior TT (6 laps): Features an overall purse where the winner takes home around £25,000.

Supersport / Superstock TT: Top prizes range from £9,500 to £10,500 for the winner, with awards scaling down to the top 10–20 riders.

Top Privateer: Additional bonuses (such as a £2,000 Privateer’s Cup) are offered to recognize the top independent riders.

[Wossname]

“50 to 60” qualify for each race. If the 10th rider - who is still very talented - only gets £1k, it’s going to cost the other 40 - 50 a great deal to compete, and they’re all very skilled riders. I can’t see how it can be claimed that they do it for the money. They do it because they love the sport. But sometimes the price is very high e.g. Maria, and many others.

[Bustaspoke]

It's a few years ago,but I'm sure Hickman said that when he started doing the TT the money & raising his profile to get more sponsorship was a motivating factor.He started in BSB as teenager but made very little money hence the reason for going to the TT.
The people I knew who raced there,TT & Manx GP,like the vast majority of racers did it for the challenge,knew they weren't getting podiums & it was going to cost them money.

[Noggin]

“50 to 60” qualify for each race. If the 10th rider - who is still very talented - only gets £1k, it’s going to cost the other 40 - 50 a great deal to compete, and they’re all very skilled riders. I can’t see how it can be claimed that they do it for the money. They do it because they love the sport. But sometimes the price is very high e.g. Maria, and many others.

It's a few years ago,but I'm sure Hickman said that when he started doing the TT the money & raising his profile to get more sponsorship was a motivating factor.He started in BSB as teenager but made very little money hence the reason for going to the TT.
The people I knew who raced there,TT & Manx GP,like the vast majority of racers did it for the challenge,knew they weren't getting podiums & it was going to cost them money.

I guess this is more what I was meaning, maybe the top ten do alright (but take out the costs, and how much is left, unless they are backed by a big team) - the average person that qualifies really doesn't gain anything but kudos for racing

[Noggin]

It's a fuck load more than the prize money for Downhill MTB that's for sure.

TBF, it sux that some of the best and most dangerous sports do not have prize money relative to the skill and bravery needed to do it


A few people here the other day (maybe yesterday) commented that I must be sad about the football, I guess England lost a big match?? I tried to explain that when your passion is a sport that anyone can get a buzz from but the people at the top can have an accident at 150+ mph and get up and run after the bike to try and pick it up to restart, and then you get encouraged to watch a sport where the guys get paid RIDICULOUS amounts of money to fall over and cry when someone flicks their ear - yeah, can't say I even knew there was a football match on, let alone be sad if England got beaten!!

(And yes, I know other people love football as well, but I fell out of love with it in my 20's and never regained any real enjoyment in it - so the falling/cheating isn't the only issue, just the easiest way to explain when people push)

[weeksy]

It's a fuck load more than the prize money for Downhill MTB that's for sure.

TBF, it sux that some of the best and most dangerous sports do not have prize money relative to the skill and bravery needed to do it


A few people here the other day (maybe yesterday) commented that I must be sad about the football, I guess England lost a big match?? I tried to explain that when your passion is a sport that anyone can get a buzz from but the people at the top can have an accident at 150+ mph and get up and run after the bike to try and pick it up to restart, and then you get encouraged to watch a sport where the guys get paid RIDICULOUS amounts of money to fall over and cry when someone flicks their ear - yeah, can't say I even knew there was a football match on, let alone be sad if England got beaten!!

(And yes, I know other people love football as well, but I fell out of love with it in my 20's and never regained any real enjoyment in it - so the falling/cheating isn't the only issue, just the easiest way to explain when people push)

P10 at a World Cup in DH doesn't even cover the entry fee, let alone anything like the countless figures before that.
It's my passion as a sport but fuck me its a tough one.

[Bigjawa]

Maybe splitting hairs, but as a spectator you’re not likely to see a death.

I wouldn’t like to give morbid prospective visitors the wrong idea.

In the Irish races, I've seen one up close and been close enough to others to hear the impact although those races aren't held anymore as the bikes were getting too quick and the circuits were deemed just too dangerous 25 years ago.

It's fine saying 120 will kill you as easily as 180, but the bikes now are doing 120 where they'd have been doing under 100 at one time, you can't compare something like an old TZ250 to a modern full power superbike. Even the commentators yesterday were saying that the riders were looking for an easier bike.

[Tricky]

We must remember, no one makes them do it. Simple as that.

It really is, albeit I guess the point Weeksy is trying to make that it is now socially unacceptable to allow sane right-minded individuals to place themselves at that much risk purely in the pursuit of a personal sporting achievement goal.

Whilst nobody makes them race, there is a whole bizarre culture at the TT (and the ManX) about the danger, real men racing inches from stone walls and the face that circuit racing is “not the real thing” .........

I disagree and think that you either "get it" , or you don't- it's a very different proposition to racing on closed , purpose-built circuits, and the best analogy I can currently think of to describe what causes people to do it is along the lines (no pun intended ) of what causes people to become Smack or Crack heads- if you are wired up that way, racing is very addictive, and the Manx/TT is (in my and many of my friends opinions) a bigger high / personal achievement.

I don't do personal regrets, but if I did, the fact that I have never raced there, and never now can (there's a cut-off age of 50 for all but TT royalty) would be one.

[weeksy]

You could race manx though I assume?

[Mr Moofo]

We must remember, no one makes them do it. Simple as that.

It really is, albeit I guess the point Weeksy is trying to make that it is now socially unacceptable to allow sane right-minded individuals to place themselves at that much risk purely in the pursuit of a personal sporting achievement goal.

Whilst nobody makes them race, there is a whole bizarre culture at the TT (and the ManX) about the danger, real men racing inches from stone walls and the face that circuit racing is “not the real thing” .........

best analogy I can currently think of to describe what causes people to do it is along the lines (no pun intended ) of what causes people to become Smack or Crack heads- if you are wired up that way, racing is very addictive, and the Manx/TT is (in my and many of my friends opinions) a bigger high / personal achievement.

I can see where the "chancers" motivation is. It is the same thrill that drive people towards things like auto asphyxiation in the bedroom.
Obviously, I very much in the "don't get it" camp. That said, if people still want to do crack on! It all a bit gladiatorial for me.

[Jody]

I hate to be 'that guy' but as time passes and speeds increase etc, this race makes less and less sense to me.

I don't want to be "that guy" either.... but ... could the same not be said for mountain biking?

[weeksy]

I hate to be 'that guy' but as time passes and speeds increase etc, this race makes less and less sense to me.

I don't want to be "that guy" either.... but ... could the same not be said for mountain biking?

Not even slightly. There have been no deaths at downhill at the same sort of level. There's been no life changing injuries apart from 2 at world cup level.

Sure people get hurt and break bones, but that's about it.

[Yorick]

Some year in early 80s there were more folk killed fishing than all UK motorsports together.

It was the year they introduced the 10m carbon fibre rods.

Loads of folk electrocuted touching overhead power lines.

[Buckaroo]

Some year in early 80s there were more folk killed fishing than all UK motorsports together.

It was the year they introduced the 10m carbon fibre rods.

Loads of folk electrocuted touching overhead power lines.

It's funny you mention this (well not funny for my uncle) as he was a fanatical angler and, of course, he had the aforementioned carbon fibre pole.

Fishing on a stretch of the Lea Navigation, he hit an overhead cable and essentially (according to my cousin) went up in smoke. He was terribly burnt and lucky to survive. His welly boots saved him.

His feet were awfully bad and never truly healed.

[Horse]

This popped up on Instagram.

Had no idea he was a bike fan.

[Mussels]

It's a fuck load more than the prize money for Downhill MTB that's for sure.

TBF, it sux that some of the best and most dangerous sports do not have prize money relative to the skill and bravery needed to do it


A few people here the other day (maybe yesterday) commented that I must be sad about the football, I guess England lost a big match?? I tried to explain that when your passion is a sport that anyone can get a buzz from but the people at the top can have an accident at 150+ mph and get up and run after the bike to try and pick it up to restart, and then you get encouraged to watch a sport where the guys get paid RIDICULOUS amounts of money to fall over and cry when someone flicks their ear - yeah, can't say I even knew there was a football match on, let alone be sad if England got beaten!!

(And yes, I know other people love football as well, but I fell out of love with it in my 20's and never regained any real enjoyment in it - so the falling/cheating isn't the only issue, just the easiest way to explain when people push)

Paris Saint-Germain beat Arsenal, if anyone else says that about the football you should ask if they are sad about the behaviour of the PSG fans.

[ZRX61]

Some year in early 80s there were more folk killed fishing than all UK motorsports together.

It was the year they introduced the 10m carbon fibre rods.

Loads of folk electrocuted touching overhead power lines.

It's funny you mention this (well not funny for my uncle) as he was a fanatical angler and, of course, he had the aforementioned carbon fibre pole.

Fishing on a stretch of the Lea Navigation, he hit an overhead cable and essentially (according to my cousin) went up in smoke. He was terribly burnt and lucky to survive. His welly boots saved him.

His feet were awfully bad and never truly healed.

That's what happened with a kid in my school. His line got caught up on a powerline & daft bugger tried to dislodge it with a wet rope while standing in the water... He didn't make it. I think he was about 13 at the time.