I like yours too bud, but...
>>>And how can they pay their entry fee/paint/hotel for the next event with "Gear from top manufacturers"????
OK, this is what gets me...why should anyone get a free ride? Why shouldn't you pay for entry when someone's putting on a tourney for you? Why shouldn't you pay for the hotel you're sleeping in? Why shouldn't you pay for paint - it ain't free to make.
You are not playing to represent your sponsors - you're playing cos you want to, it's your hobby, and people pay to enjoy their hobbies.
Jeez, when I did tha Eco-Challenge the team entry fee was $10,000 - add on flights, expenses and gear and you're talking about $5,000 per person...and they had like 80 teams.
Know where tha prize money went down to? 3rd...no ridculous Pro/Am thing either - and that's despite tha fact that there were genuine Pro athletes there who are paid to race as a living.
When I race MTB in tha National Series, it costs me $50 to race round a trail for an hour and a half, that on any other day I could do for free...and there are no prizes!
I do it for tha competition, to test myself against tha best, and I'll happily save and spend my own money to pursue my passion - why should you be any different?