None of these guys is worth the money they make.
However, as you mentioned, they do make it. Thank God for Capitalism.
Valentino Rossi is worth every penny! You can watch him on Speed Channel this weeken in action as he manhandles his 240 horsepower motorcycle around Laguna Seca!
(Oh yeah, good luck trying to race with him, he has won 5 championships in MotoGP on two different brands on three different types of bikes)