Helping the privateers at the club level with contingency win money would be dollars well spent. Just one podium finish would help pay for the years' wear items and, for EBR, it would help sell bikes so it would pay for itself. As for EBR shelling out $25k to $10k for podium finishes, that is a lot of money and takes several bikes sales to recoup. So starting slow and at the privateer/ club level may be the way to go. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that EBR does "reward" Splitlath and their riders for podium finishes now.