Teamwork

Still in the Paddock at the NW200 road races.  There was an impressive show by the top teams - this was FHO BMW Racing's offering:

FHO BMW Racing Team at the NW200.  The tread on the back tyre is a reminder of the poor weather - in dry conditions they'd be slicks, with no tread. M6/28mm/HP5 on Ilford MG Classic fibre paper.

FHO is quite the team - the only female-owned and led Superbike Team, by Faye Ho, who grew up in Macau and has been involved in motorsport pretty much all her life.  She seems to be pretty serious about the whole thing.  Unfortunately it didn't work out this year for FHO Racing, since their rider (Peter Hickman) was forced to retire with tyre problems and they then decided not to race on safety grounds.  Probably a wise move.  

A hundred yards or so down the Paddock and things start to look very different: 

Life at a smaller team - not quite on the same level as FHO Racing.

There were lots of teams like this - a couple of guys, up to their eyes in grease and doing their best to get their machines ready for the Saturday.  I guess they are sponsored by local businesses in whatever part of the world they come from.  It can't be easy - I'm sure even the smallest teams burn through a sizeable amount of cash in one meeting and if you aren't in the mix for a placing at the end you can forget about prize money.  The big races of the day will win you something like £6000 if you come first, the sixth placed rider get a few hundred and if you come lower than that, well, you don't even get your bus fare home.

I have no idea about the finances of road racing but from what I read, there are very few professional riders in the business - even some of the top names have day jobs, anything from electrician to builder.  Why do they do it?  The rush, I guess.  They're all a little mad, of course.