Call for Applications: GamJams 2010 Racing Team

In 2010 GamJams will launch a men's Cat 3 Racing team.

Not a team with a bunch of Cat 3s, or one with some 3s and 4s and maybe a 5 at the beginning of the season, but with more 3s and a few 2s at the end of the season. All Cat 3s, and nothing but Cat 3s.

What's that all about? This:

• GamJams Racing aims to be most successful development team in the country. Our objective is to graduate racers into the nation's top elite and professional squads.
• We believe a squad with a focused composition is the best environment for creating team-based objectives, and for preparing racers for competing at the elite level.
• Racers are expected to remain on the team for a full year (unless they receive a forced upgrade).
• Once a racer upgrades to Category 2, he must leave GamJams Racing (like when the Menudo guys turn 16).
• The squad will be well-supported by sponsors, but we're not looking for racers who particularly care about that.

Like racing on a team? How about winning? Is GamJams ok by you? Maybe you should learn more and apply here.

(Call for Applications closes on October 16th.)

Comments

[Ben]

Great idea and I don't want to poo poo it (especially since I'm no longer a cyclist!), but the type of riders that have the potential to "graduate into the nation's top elite and professional squads" are Cat 3's for about 3-4 races!! Need examples? Matt Cooke - blew through the 3's in no time flat, Tommy Nelson - same deal, Russ Langley - same deal, etc., etc. You're going to need a full time HR manager to deal with that type of turn-over - also it's damn hard to race as team when everyone is out to advance. The best teams for development have a good mix of "lifers" and developmental type riders. The lifers teach the kids how to race like a team and the lifers get to live vicariously through the wins delivered by the kids! My .02.

[Mike May]

Hey Ben. Thanks for chiming in and no poo poo taken. You're right about the "lifers and kids" mix, which is exactly how we're structuring the team. You don't see it in the post where I announce the team but have a look at the full application for details.

I agree also about some of the top racers upgrading out of Cat 3 in a hurry. The truth is that for some of these guys, it doesn't matter which team they're on. There's not a lot of team racing in 4 and 5, so the real stars will just blast through the under-categories without the need for much team support. DJ Brew is the most recent local example, I think. He didn't get much team support in Cat 3 at all (I can attest to that, as his teammate), but also didn't need it. But some other guys mature at a more mortal clip, and that's where the team structure is aimed. My guess is that it will be useful in helping develop racers' potential, but even more instrumental in showing a racer how much potential he really has.

You're also causing me to roll out the other part of the Master Plan a little early. In addition to the sponsored team, GamJams will also have a Club Team open to anyone. Racers who aren't yet Cat 3 but expect to get there quickly and want to race with GamJams might start on the Club Team. (And even if they don't want to race on the Cat 3 team, there will be other reasons to join the Club Team - it's not just a feeder.) More details on the Club Team are coming within the next couple of weeks.

[guest]

were you this helpful on Artemis?

[Mike May]

At times. But I guess I'm just not a career domestique. I found some motivation to take the lead on something new.