Posts
1656
Joined
10/18/2014
Location
Beer City, MI, USA
Edited Date/Time
1/2/2015 2:36am
Wondering about three things:
1) Who is the fastest (or was the fastest) professional moto mechanic around a track? I know they have to be pretty damn good riders to be able to relate to their riders and translate performance issues into fixes, but how fast are they? Are there some that should be racing instead of wrenching? Did any riders become mechanics after their racing career ended?
2) Who is the fastest (or was the fastest) professional moto mechanic in the pits (doing engine swaps, bike builds, etc.)? I've met some mechanics that could do stuff in an hour or two that would take me a couple days, so I'm wondering how fast someone can actually be at that kind of thing.
3) Which pro rider is the best mechanic? Who, if their mechanic didn't show up one day, would be completely fine by themselves (if there are any)?
1) Who is the fastest (or was the fastest) professional moto mechanic around a track? I know they have to be pretty damn good riders to be able to relate to their riders and translate performance issues into fixes, but how fast are they? Are there some that should be racing instead of wrenching? Did any riders become mechanics after their racing career ended?
2) Who is the fastest (or was the fastest) professional moto mechanic in the pits (doing engine swaps, bike builds, etc.)? I've met some mechanics that could do stuff in an hour or two that would take me a couple days, so I'm wondering how fast someone can actually be at that kind of thing.
3) Which pro rider is the best mechanic? Who, if their mechanic didn't show up one day, would be completely fine by themselves (if there are any)?
I honestly think that given the right environment , it isnt that difficult to wrench a bike , proper work area , right tools , and a bit of practice... these guys arent tearing motors apart , they pull out one and put in another, and when you have done it a few times , its becomes second nature.
Where the skill comes is doing it the same , every time , and never making a mistake, and more importantly doing it against the clock.
The motor guys are the ones i admire most , because while i can put one together and it will run , building them right takes a level of feel and expertise i dont have.
I was thinking that Albrechts would be on the list, but now that I think about it, I've only ever heard of the two of them being wrenches
For some reason Bowen rings a bell too, but I can't remember where or why
The Shop
DeCal Works Huge Plastic Inventory of UFO and Polisport kits.
Luxon 4-Post Bar Mounts
$189.95 - $239.95
When i worked in World Rally , the guys would practice gearbox changes and stuff , and all sorts of repairs to see what they could do in the short and long services, i never went on event so seeing this first hand was rare , but we did a new car and the first time they did it was cool to watch , they set up the tarp and jacks that they would have in the field , and then wheeled the car out , ragged it round the estate to get it scalding hot, and came in parked it and cracked on ... 22mins , only allowed 20 , but they got it down to 15 or so with a couple of mods.. great to watch.
When you get to a certain level, you have a fork guy , a shock guy , and a tyre guy , and a motor guy , at the track , its all about organisation , if you are factory, those guys work just for you , if you are a privateer , there will be a guy in a van out back doing everyones stuff.
I have been lucky enough to be pitlane crew at a few big races and thats fun , but being THE guy , thats a deal for people who have that bit extra
Pit Row
Originally went to Europe to wrench for some dude, then ended up winning a couple World titles.
Wasn't there a Ricky Carmichael race where they had to do a lap and then change a tire, or something like that? I think it was within the last year or so but I can't remember
Cool trivia!
Learn something new every day...
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