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That was wild
Honestly, I'm shocked we don't see more issues like this. The race mechanics get paid shit, work their ass off and have to travel 80% of the time.
I knew Lotte was about to be in a shit show when the guys were trying to bounce it free.
Shearing off a Yamaha 250f drain bolt is highly unlikely due to the fact that it is on the back side of the motor not on the bottom.
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I don't think the depth of track prep is as different as you think between the days. The soil composition will be the same, and the moisture level would be similar. I also doubt the men would be 7 seconds or so faster than they are if their qualifiers were moved to Friday. (The women were about 7 seconds slower on Saturday than their qualifying times)
How does a drain bolt come loose and completely back out after only 1 lap?
By being only finger tight to start with. Pretty sure the team/mechanic copped to it on IG.
They forgot to tighten it... plain and simple.
As sh274s stated above, it isn't worth it for most skilled/experienced mechanics to go to the races with all these small teams, so they hire whoever wants to do it.
I'm really surprised that more things do not come apart because the mechanic forgot to tighten a bolt.
Back in the day I was adjusting the chain on my bike between motos when a friend came over and started talking to me. Well....I got distracted and forgot to tighten the axle nut back up. Lap 2 of my next moto things didnt feel right with my rear wheel. So I pulled over and discovered what I had not done, tighten the axle nut. As I was pushing my bike back to my truck i went by Ted Devol. He asked what was up and I told him. He said, for that very reason that he always leaves the ratchet on the nut while he is making adjustments. That was 35 years ago.
So...with all the commotion in the pits with fans, girlfriends, agents, riders, gear guys...I'm surprised the mechanics are able to maintain the focus they do.
Thanks for the explanation.That's how my KTM drain bolt is on the 350.
So I guess the mechanic just forgot to tighten it. 🙄 Like I said previously, it's a good thing the race was red flagged. Could have been a lot worse if the motor locked up on a jump face.
Did something similar when I was a kid. Aired my tires up with the intentions of immediately using a gauge to bleed them down to the right psi. Forgot, and raced a muddy 45 minute hare scramble with 30psi on a KX80.
Simple it wasn’t tightened in the first place….the “mechanic” probably couldn’t find the right size wrench from his Walmart tool kit he was sporting…I am also going to assume that the holeshot device was installed improperly to make it get stuck that way…comedy of errors…
Well the good news was that she wasn’t going to be jumping anything with her forks stuck down anyways…
The biggest difference I see in the racing is the first lap pace.
The women are much more polite, and tip toe around each other for the first lap so the pace is a crawl compared to their 2nd and 3rd lap pace once everyone slots in.
The 250 class dudes are Braveheart-ing it as soon as the gate drops.
Yeah I get that. You hand tighten it then go look for your socket and see a butterfly and forget what you were doing, been there done that. I just figured it would take a while for the bolt to do 10 or so full revolutions and fall out.
Anybody know what brand of holeshot device was installed on her bike?
Ancra?
Being a mechanic is no joke, but there are some things that just can't happen. This is one of them.
Pit Row
I remember years ago Mike Brown was in the thick of a 250f MX championship run, and his mechanic forgot to tighten the seat bolts, his seat came off after 5 or so laps and he had to race the remainder of that moto standing. Thank god it was Mike Brown, as I'm not sure some of the riders could've made it. I believe he actually had a decent finish in the moto too.
But I do agree, not tightening a drain plug bolt, could be catastrophic for the bike and especially the rider.
Wasn’t that John Starling that seemed to be directing the mechanic on what to do?
I've started to cover WMX a little on The Privateers Story - Here is a small gallery - https://theprivateersstory.com/2026/06/23/wmx-2026-high-point-photo-galley/ - Also on Instagram @theprivateersstory
Probably just turning up the music to drown out the bad noises. At least that's what my wife does to break her vehicle.
Post a reply to: Enjoying this year's WMX racing but what is it with all the mechanicals?