BEST OF JODY’S BOX: THERE ARE NO FREEBIES WHEN IT COMES TO STICKERS

BY JODY WEISEL

“Hey mister, have you got any stickers?” asked a kid after the second moto last weekend. I used to be a crazy sticker kid. I put them on the spare refrigerator in my parents garage, but I rarely stuck them on my bike. So, I was thus equipped with a plastic bag full of miscellaneous stickers.

I dug in the back of my truck and handed him a handful of decals. Kids love stickers. They collect them, plaster them on urinals and trade them with other kids. But, in professional motocross, stickers aren’t just colorful decorations, they are the currency of the sport. Serious racers only run stickers for their actual sponsors—running a sticker on your front fender just because you like the way it looks is an anti-free-market capitalism statement. Like clues at a crime scene, stickers point the enterprising detective through a rider’s financial books.

A TRUE PROFESSIONAL NEVER RUNS A DECAL UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING IN IT FOR HIM. THERE ARE NO FREEBIES WHEN IT COMES TO HELMET, FENDER OR JERSEY SPACE.

A true professional never runs a decal unless there is something in it for him. There are no freebies when it comes to helmet, fender or jersey space. You gotta give to get. Unlike in the amateur ranks, where riders will put a sticker on their bike just because they like it, a pro won’t run a sticker unless there is a kick back in the transaction.

“Are all these companies sponsors of yours?” asked the kid as he thumbed through the stickers.

I nodded affirmatively as I pulled my jersey off and laid it in the bed of the Jodymobile next to my helmet. The kid pointed at my visor and asked, “What does Mobius do for you?”

“They gave me my knee braces.”

“What about VP?” he asked.

“They give me race gas.”

“What’s this Lightspeed sticker for?”

“They gave me my carbon fiber rear brake air scoop and skid plate.”

“Does Arai give you free helmets?” asked the kid?

“Yes, and they paint them orange for me also,” I said.

“What does MTA stand for?” He asked while pointing at the back of my helmet.

“Motorcycle Tire and Accessory. They give me tires,” I replied.

“Why do you have an Adidas sticker on your helmet?” he asked. “Do they make motocross gear?”

“No,” I said. “They give me free shoes.”

“What is Foes?” asked the kid as he looked at an iron-on stuck on my jersey.

“It’s a mountain bike company. They gave me my downhill bike,” I said.

“What’s with the Jack’s Electric sticker? Do they have anything to do with electric bikes like Stark?” asked the kid.

“No. He’s a friend of mine. That’s his electrical contracting company in Palm Springs. I run the sticker as a favor to him, but if I need help with the flood lights on my house, he fixes them for me.”

“Is that apple on top of your helmet, the Apple logo?” he asked.

“Yeah, they sponsored me to my 27-inch iMac.” I replied

“Who’s Midget Smith?” asked the kid.

“He shaped my surfboard,” I said.

“What is Delaware Punch?” asked the kid as he fingered my jersey.

“It’s a drink. I know the local bottler and he gives me unlimited cases every year,” I replied

“What does AMP Research do for you?” asked the kid.

“They gave me the Bed Extender for my truck and they also gave me the truck,” I said.

“What’s that O logo on your jersey stand for?“ asked the kid.

“O’Neal. They give me my gear,” I said.

“It must be cool to get all this stuff for free, but I’ll bet you have a really big sponsor who pays all your bills, gives you bikes, pays your expenses, arranges your travel, gives you bonuses and pays your salary.”

“Of course I do,” I answered. “Motocross is an expensive sport. If I wasn’t paid to race and test motorcycles I wouldn’t be able to do it. I’d probably go through thousands of dollars a year. It takes big bucks to get everything to the track four days a week.”

“Who pays all your bills?” asked the kid.

“Motocross Action,” I replied.

“Where’s their sticker?” he asked.

“Oops!”