‘I’d love to take the taxman on the back around the TT course’
Our man reckons racers don’t get paid well enough for the risks they take
When I hear about footballers wages it makes me a bit sick. I know it’s a massive sport, but when you compare it to bike racers it’s a bit naff isn’t it?
I don’t know what the likes of Rea and Marquez earn, but I can pretty safely say I don’t think they’ll be paid fairly for the risks they take. I’m sure they are paid well, but it’s all relative. Maybe there isn’t the money in the sport but it does seem racers do not get paid well compared to other sportsmen when they risk their lives every time they ride.
I don’t know how to change it.
‘FOR EVERY MILE HE STAYED ON THE BACK I’D PAY 1% TAX’
Maybe there’s no way to change it; if the top six boycott a race the man in seventh would still go out and win.
When I won the Senior TT in 2005 I won £21,000 and when I won the Senior TT in 2015 I won £17,900. How does that work? Then of course, the money goes in your bank and Mr Tax Man takes 40%. After tax I would say racers definitely don’t get paid what they deserve.
I do think tax should be adjusted to what you do for a living. At first glance a racer’s wage might seem a lot, so we pay a lot of tax, but ultimately there are only so many years you can earn that money as a racer whereas Mr Bank Manager will be getting a solid salary until he retires at 65.
I’d love to take the taxman on the back around the TT track. I’d tell him for every mile he stayed on the back I’d pay 1% tax. If he can hold on for the full thing I’ll give him the 40%, but if he only lasts eight miles then I’ll pay 8%. It’s wrong when there’s no prize money at some events as well. If there’s people paying to enter a meeting and spectators paying to watch, the racers should get something.