Talk about racing a bit ... I've never raced, but I hung around racers (TD3 Yamaha roadracers and YZ motocrossers run out of a local shop) and have friends who run BEARS and AHRMA production racers ...

... and I've always wondered if anyone has actually gotten serious advantages from a bit of cheating to take 1/2 a pound off the bike, or gain 3/10 of a horsepower.

People seem to think that if they can sneak a titanium brake lever or a fiberglass battery cover past the scrutineers, then they'll have an advantage.

But it seems to me that the consistent winners, and especially the guys who are well up in the standings for the season's points, are the ones who:

1) Show up for all the races.
2) Have bikes that will run the entire race.
3) Know what they are doing out on the track, and concentrate on finishing the race at whatever skill level they're able to ride at, rather than searching for "the limits" of traction and engine longevity, being that the signal that you HAVE found those limits are a pranged bike or a blown-up engine.

But so many people seem to be concentrating on fancy equipment and pushing the rules. I can see that maybe being an issue between the top 10 racers in the world, but for regular guys? Doesn't seem worth the effort to cheat.

Just my opinion, though. What do the BTDT guys think?

Lannis