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He didn't really come on until the last 10 minutes of Moto 2... Rest assured, he's got some "results" coming. Awesome photo!

I am a certified aircraft mechanic(A&P), who happens to love bikes too. Never used or even saw a "power tool" in A&P school. Never used one on any airplane. Snapped off bolts and stripped threads=$$$$. ok. What about your $10k bike? Or do you care about someone else's $10k bike? For some, it's about time and money. Saving and making. In the current internet/Craigslist/Ebay times, stripped out, cracked, destroyed replacement parts are just a click or two away for the home "mechanic" at decent prices. The only exception to my NO POWER TOOLS ON BIKES is to remove a clutch...

I use them on everything (vehicles, home, even snowboards) except my bikes. I tried to do it once, but there's just something about a T-handle and a torque wrench that just seems right. Edit: after thinking about it, my bike is the only thing I turn a wrench on that I'm not in a hurry with. Therapeutic maybe, or the fact that a rushed over bolt could end badly. If it was my job to work on bikes, I might feel different but I've had a lot of the same tools for the 25 years I've worked on my own...

Is he the most talented rider ever that didn't become a "great" in the sport?

This reminds me of a funny story. This girl I had just started dating said she would come with me to the race one weekend. So we get up early and head to the race. She falls asleep in the truck on the way to the race. Doesn't wake up when we get there so I go to sign up and walk the track. Come back and she's all pissed that I left her there alone, saying what if someone attacked me. I was like WTF, people here would be more interested in taking my bike or gear than you...

Pourcel did that a lot, I think, when the rut was choppy or hooked. Go outside, square it and come back across the top of the rut. If it's faster, why not? Man, I miss watching him ride. Poetry.

Not sure about all time but this guy always seemed pretty cool.

Alot of great points in this discussion.one thing I see too is for the core riders.(int, pros)Kids seem a bit smarter now and move on from mx racing and into the mainstream work force alot faster.when u look at local racing the pro/ into turnout is really bad. 5 or 6 guys in ether class is a good day. Wth! There's no money for pros to sustain them racing which is bad. most parents seem to drop the support system$$ shortly when kids turn 18 when really that's the time they need the support the most.the privateer life is dying...

I believe its Because in the top Amateur races around the Country the Kids that are being courted to turn pro, by the top teams, Star Yamaha etc are Running bikes so close to Factory that people realize quickly that they cant compete with that, so they learn that sooner, it used to take a couple years in the pro class without support, to figure out wait a minute it dont matter how good i am riding, if i dont get on one of the IT teams i cant compete. Thats one angle and another is there are just less...

Having had probably 20 new "race bikes" cause that's what they are, I always started them before I left dealerships checked clutch engagement brakes etc. some dealers even have little dirt areas they use after they " set up" bikes so I would do ride it just to check it out for basics. Then take it home and tear it down lube every thing, check clickers etc. in old days jap bikes came with what we used to call fish oil in the forks lol . So that said change all fluids to good quality shit make all adjustments. A...

No different than buying a car. You have issues and they don’t just send you new parts. They need to diagnose it themselves for warranty purposes. Air filters are almost never properly oiled by the dealership. You’ll want to grease the linkage and head tube bearings as well. Bummer your new bike is having issues, but they aren’t handling it incorrectly.