Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/298857
INTERVIEW KAWASAKI MECHANIC – MIKE WILLIAMSON P62 after everyone else has left." Villopoto agrees that a good relationship with your mechanic is a key element. "You've got to have someone you can bounce ideas off of and guide you in the right direction," Villopoto said. "Mike's definitely a person I can trust to make sure the bike is right and get things done in a proper way." >>The Downside While Williamson seems to thrive off the challenges of staying ahead of the competition and putting the best-prepared bike on the grid, the job also has its drawbacks. The thousands of miles of travel per year and time spent away from home is just part of the profession that Williamson and all the other factory mechan- ics learn to deal with. "On a typical week I'm in the shop on Monday and Tuesday," Williamson says. "On Wednes- day I fly out of Orange County every week. Usually when I land I go to the semi, which is at the hotel, and I'll tear the bike all the way apart that night. I'll try to do some work in the solvent tank and clean some parts. "Thursday will be 12 hours in the truck; finishing cleaning parts and building the bike back up by six or seven that night. Friday's track day, set up the tent, get the truck all dialed in and get tires mounted and ready to go, sound inspection and then odds and ends - check spares and catch up on stuff. "Saturday is race day, which is usually about a 14-15 hour day. I get back to the room at 1:00 in the morning and usually get up early for a 6:00 am flight back to the West Coast for my half- day off. Monday morning it starts all over again." Supercross season is definitely the most grueling time for factory mechan- ics. It's 17 weekends in 18 weeks, with only the Easter break to look forward to. The outdoor nationals pro- vide a few more breaks in the schedule, but William- son said there really is no off season. "Now with Monster En- ergy Cup and Motocross des Nations and then pre- season testing, you don't really let up," said William- son, who is married and has a two-year-old at home. "I definitely look forward to off weekends." >>The Job Market Williamson said opportunities are out there for young mechanics who want to break into racing. Going to the races and letting teams know you're interested is the first step. And even though the job of factory mechanic is a small fraternity, Williamson said the opportunities are out there for the right people. "If you know the bikes and aren't afraid to work, there are jobs out there," Williamson said. "You might have to start out with lesser-known riders and work your way up like I did, but if you have talent and care about the job you'll definitely get noticed and the offers will come." CN It's moments like these - Villopoto's first of three Supercross Championship wins - that make the hard work worthwhile.