DREAM JOBS: HOW TO MAKE A LIVING DOING WHAT YOU LOVE (09/07/11)

MARK VALCORE
MECHANIC, ROCKSTAR MAKITA SUZUKI

STARTING POINT: “When Suzuki needed a guy in-house to work practice bikes and test bikes, they called me up; I’ve been there ever since. I did the test bikes and practice bikes for Ricky Carmichael, and I would go to the races and help Mike Gosselaar and Tony Berluti out. Then, Ryan Dungey asked me to work for him in ’08 and ’09. I wrenched for Jake Moss in 2010 and now Brett Metcalfe.”

THE JOB: “My job is to just keep the bike going. We tear it down every week. Every bolt comes off, and we make sure everything is done right; that it has everything the rider wants done to it, and that it will hold up through all the motos. Once everything is clean, I enjoy building the engine. The downside is the cleaning and scrubbing. I love being at the races. I love going to the line and just being a part of it. I love trying to motivate the rider to do the best he can.”