(PRI-VA-TEER) n.  An 18th century seafaring term for a private citizen with a license to wage war and plunder.  

Likened to pirates, buccaneers and broke a$# motocrossers.

At our house we love THE GREAT OUTDOORS DVD series.  It's produced by NO FEAR and every year they come out with a great motocross movie.  They follow the PRO NATIONALS and they give you an inside look at what a pro motocross rider and their team experience in a season.  Well, a few years ago they did a movie called, THE PRIVATEERS.  

I just happened to watch THE PRIVATEERS again the other day.  It had been so long since the last time I watched it that I had forgotten how cool these guys really are.  When you hear some of their stories, you're like, "They're crazy for going through all this!"  But then you think, "How can they be crazy for chasing their dream?"

The Privateer dream is simple:  A Factory Ride and to Win A National Championship

Throughout the movie they list some incredible and often funny facts about life as a privateer versus life as a factory rider.  Check these out....

Each year an average of 800 Privateers will register with the AMA to compete in the outdoor nationals.  Out of those 800, less than 1% will earn a Factory Ride.

On Race Day, the average Factory Pro brings a personal mechanic, suspension specialist, personal trainer and team mechanic.  The average Privateer brings a buddy.

A Privateer can lose an average of 2 girlfriends per season.  A Factory Pro can get a new girlfriend each race.

A 20th place finisher in the Nationals will earn 1 point and $100 dollars.  It costs $140 to enter.

Most Factory Pros get paid six to seven figures to race.  Privateers will spend four to five figures just to get to the race.

Factory Pros will go through 4 sets of gear per race.  4 days after a race a Privateer might find the time to wash his own.

Factory riders test during the week.  Privateers test during the race.

A Privateer who competes in all 12 races of the outdoor nationals will spend 18 weeks on the road.

In an average outdoor season, a Privateer drives as far as 18,000 miles and spends $3500 on gas. (with the price of gas last summer, I'm sure that dollar amount is substantially more)

During a national season, a Privateer could consume 43 pounds of pasta, 177 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and visit 83 drive thru's.

 Riders in the top 20 in points don't have to qualify on Saturday.  Riders in the top 10 don't have to qualify on Sunday.  Every Privateer must qualify to race in the main event.

The average career span for a top Factory rider is 7 years.  A Privateer on the average will hold a national number for 2 to 3 years.

When asked why they do it, one of the guys put it best, "It's an addiction. We need to have like an AA class for Motocross."    

Here's to the PRIVATEERS!