Cycle News - Archive Issues - 1990's

TURN Donn Maeda FOUR By here do you draw the line between a personal and professional relationship? In what circumstances does business take precedence over friendship, and vice versa? Now that the motocross silly season is in full swing, this question is popping into the minds of riders, team managers and sponsors day in and day out. In the past, riders generally signed the contract that either paid the most, offered the best chances of victory, or furthered their careers. But things are different now. With the current trend of team uniforms and clothing sponsors sweeping through the pits, riders often find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place. What good is a multi-year, highdollar clothing, boot or helmet contract, if it can prevent you from joining a given team? And on the other side of the coin, what good is a long-term commitment from a rider to a sponsor, if the riders can at any time renege on the deal? Remember the Rubik's cube? Sure, it was easy to get one side of the cube to match, but geting all six sides to dovetail was quite a task. Factory teams, riders and clothing sponsors have made this year's off-season session of musical chairs quite a fiasco. No longer is it a matter of which team wants each rider. Now the team must ask itself, are there any strings attached? One of the best examples of late is the situation that two-time Western Regional Supercross Champion Damon Huffman found himself in. It's no secret that Huffman recently signed a three-year contract to ride for Team Kawasaki, but the negotiations that took place before he placed his John Hancock on the dotted line are quite interesting. Before the start of the '95 season, Huffman, a member of the factory Suzuki squad, signed a lucrative twoyear contract with Axo Sport America. With the recent retirement of Jeff Stanton, Huffman took over Stanton's position as the company's number-one rider, and according to Axo president Jim Hale, "It was for $80,000 per year more than Axo had ever paid a 125 rider before." A few months ago, Huffman began to negotia te with the Honda factory W about a ride for the '96 season. Though he was still a factory Suzuki rider, Huffman was able to find time to take a few test la ps aboard Steve Lamson's factory CR250. Candidly, Huffman admitted that it was one of the best bikes he'd ever ridden, and he desired to be a Red Rider in '96. Honda offered him a twoyear contract that reportedly started at $175,000 for the first year. Shortly after Huffman signed on with Axo (in late '94), Team Honda signed a multi-year contract with Fox Racing. All team members for the next three years would be required to wear Fox Racing jerseys, pants, gloves and chest protectors. If Huffman were to ride for Team Honda in '96, he would have to be released fom his Axo contract. "I really thought that Jim would let me out," said Huffman. "It was a good opportunity for me, and Jim and I had become friends, so I didn't think there would be a problem." No such luck. Hale stuck to his guns, and despite numerous requests from Huffman and his father Dave, Hale refused to simply let his numberone rider walk out the door. "What Damon didn't realize was that we had put a lot of effort into making him popular," said Hale. "Motocross is an individual sport, and in spi te of the team clothing sponsors - I think that the consumer identifies with the individual. Kids don't buy Fox gear because of Team Honda, they buy it because of Jeremy McGrath." Here lies the controversy. One could argue that as Huffman's friend, Hale should have let the youngster out of the contract. Signing with Honda is indeed, the opportunity of a lifetime, and the Axo contract was without a doubt an obstruction. On the other side of the coin, however, letting Huffman go would have set a precedent. Had Hale agreed, how could anyone - rider or sponsor - take future contracts seriously? A contract is just that. A commitment. An agreement. Period. Eventually, Hale and the Huffmans finally came to an agreement. Hale would allow Huffman to sign with Team Honda and wear Fox clothing. but he would have to commit to wearing an Axo helmet and boots for three years - free of charge. The compromise was approved by Honda, but surprisingly, Huffman didn't take that route. '1t was the oddest thing," said Hale. "Once I agreed and opened the door, it was like they didn't want it anymore. The 'Red Fever' broke." 'The whole time that we were trying to work things out with Axo and Honda, Kawasaki was making me offers," said Huffman. "I rode Mike LaRocco's bike on Mike Keidrowski's supercross track and liked it a lot, even though it was set up way too stiff for me. Anyway, after I sat down and did all the math, I would have had to win championships for Honda to make the same amount that I would have made with Kawasaki and Axo to start." Kawasaki will reportedly pay Huffman $240,000 the first year, $255,00 the second and $285,000 the third. In addition, Huffman's contract included several Kawasaki "toys" - a pair of Jet Skis, a dual sport bike, an ATV and a Mule utility vehicle. 'Td have to say that I'm happy with the way things worked out," said Huffman. 'Til still be wearing Axo clothes, and I know that 1 can do well on Kawasakis - I did as an amateur. Jim and I have put it all behind us, and everything's just fine." Hale agrees. 'There are times where you have to put on your business face and leave personal interests at home," said Hale. '1 in no way wanted to hold Damon back, but I had to look out for Axo's best interests as well." While the Huffman/ Axo/Honda/ Fox/Kawasaki situation has worked itself out, there are still a number of riders who remain on the auctioning block. Who can ride for whom? Who can wear what? That all depends. How many strings are attached, and just how thick might they be? Without a doubt, team-clothing contracts add an air of professionalism to the sport, but as Hale said - motocross is not a true team sport, and the individual prevails. Is the team clothing contract good or bad? A blessing or a curse? A stepping stone or a road block? Food for thought... £N LOOKING BACK... 25 YEARS AGO... SEPTEMBER 15, 1970 grinnin g Chuck Palmgren graced the cover of 25 years past, the smile coming as a result of his first National dirt track win of the year, this at the brutally ~"-""------J long Nazareth, Pennsylvania, round of the series. Not only was it a first for the rider, but also for the machine as the first win ever for the Yamaha 650cc dirt tracker...At the Indy Mile, Dave Aldana borrowed Dick Mann's BSA for the feature, took the lead from Cal Rayborn on the sixth lap and walked away from the pack to capture his third win of the season...The second race of the North vs. South Motocross series took place at Bay Mare in Moorpark, Ca1ifornia, with the South once again taking the victory, led by A Billy Clements and John DeSoto, but his fifth Grand National win of the seaonly after a bitter fight to the end with son and sat second to only Randy Goss the tough Northern contingent...At the (second on the day) in the overall point ACA Road Racing meet in Carlsbad, standings...The final rounds of the 125 California, Norton-mounted George and 500cc MX series took place at the Kerker traded the lead with BSA rider Sunshine Speedway in Florida, where John McGillivray throughout the hardMark Barnett and Danny LaPorte fought Heavyweight Production race ended their respective seasons on a winwith Kerker only prening note, with Barnett's somewhat vailing at the finish by ~~~I":' "",.,,:l~ more winning as he clinched the .. a few seconds. eighth-liter-class championship. LaPorte was seventh in the championship points race led by Chuck Sun. 15 YEARS AGO... The story was penned by now AMA Pro SEPTEMBER 10, 1980 Racing President Tom Mueller... persistence paid off for Ted Worrell as he " Long live the King!" protook the overall win in the Greylock Riders M.C.'s 1DO-mile Greylock Nation. claimed the cover in 1980. al Enduro. He won by a single point Kenny Roberts was over his former teammate Drew Smith. sea ted upon a miniature road race 5YEARS AGO... bike and took his place in the annals of racing history by clinching his third SEPTEMBER 5, 1990 World Championship with his win at he u.s. round of the World 500cc the Nurburgring ... Dirt tracker Hank MX series was hosted at Glen Helen Scott went to Topeka, Kansas, to secure Raceway and Belgian Eric Geboers T ir7i:rr,-,.,..,....."",_ cap p e doff ,~~~~~~~~~ his illustrious racing career by landing the overall a t the final round of the series after battling with Johnny O'Mara and Rick Johnson, fifth and second overall for the day, respectively. Geboers clinched the championship two rounds prior to the U.5. meeting...In the closest Camel Pro Series race of the season, Scott Parker edged out teammate Chris Carr (winner of the Sturgis 600cc National) by less than a wheel length to stand atop the podium for the fifth time at the Indy Mile...The Motorcycle Heritage Museum opened its doors in Westerville, Ohio, and thousands of people showed up, including Jay Leno, Willie G. Davidson, Robert Forbes, Jim Davis and Chris Carr. G'i

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