percent of the equation when it
comes to being a pro racer. The
rest is money, timing, and having
the single-minded determination
to make it happen, regardless
of financial, physical or personal
ruin.
What got me on this train of
thought was an incredibly honest
YouTube video made by now for-
mer British Championship racer,
Taylor Mackenzie. If the name
sounds familiar, it should. Taylor
is the son of former 500cc rider
and three-time BSB champion,
Nial, and with the contacts his
father has, you'd think it was a
straight path to the top, right?
Taylor announced his retire-
ment a few weeks ago at the
age of 28 and compiled a career
retrospect of what he calls 'the
snakes and ladders of racing.'
Anyone wishing to make
racing their occupation should
watch this video. Just click on
the above link.
In it, Taylor explains how crap
bikes, teams, injuries and the
sheer stress of racing at a high
level eventually sucks the fun out
of racing. And the fact that at 25,
he was still having to pay teams
to do races was quite insane. As
he says, "I don't know any job
where you go for an interview,
your credentials are checked,
and the boss asks you, 'how
much are you going to pay to do
the job?'"
I
did. I still do. At 39 years old.
That goes to show the intoxica-
tion of the sport, that it cap-
tivates people from five to 50
alike.
But motorcycle racing as a
career is an incredibly perilous
choice. Like the NBA, 99.999
percent of people who pick up
a helmet with the idea of being
the next Fabio Quartararo won't
make it. Most don't even get
close.
The reasons for not making it
are so varied there's no single
defining factor. If you're good
enough to even consider mak-
ing the sport your career, there
are so many cards that need to
fall your way. Talent is about 30
P114
CN
III LOWSIDE
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK
The Red Bull Rookies
kids all want glory, but
only about 10 percent
who even get to this
stage will make it to
the big time.
SO YOU
WANNA BE
A RACER?
SO YOU
WANNA BE
A RACER?
