Message from the past prize winners

Questions

  1. What motivated you to challenge the WTGP at the time?
  2. What effort did you make to win the prize?
  3. Were there any effects in your job after you win the prize at the WTGP?
    Please introduce us the episode of the positive effects to your professional attitude and others.
  4. Let us know the activities or services your shop doing to go beyond the expectation of the customers if any.
  5. When do you find your job rewarding.
  6. What do you want to challenge or be passionately at work from here on?
  7. Please give a message for the 2016 WTGP participants to cheer them up.

2002

Beat Burkhalter
Dealer: Burkhalter Motos
Country: Switzerland
  • Q1What motivated you to challenge the WTGP at the time?
    My motivation for participating in the WTGP was to compete with other participants. To accept the challenge of the competition and experience something new and unusual. To meet other Yamaha technicians from around the world and exchange ideas.
  • Q2What effort did you make to win the prize?
    The first participation in the Swiss qualifier was very intense and the theory examination was very complex and tricky. My victory there motivated me to continue learning at home and refresh my long-standing experience as a Yamaha technician. Participation and my good result again at the ETGT gave me renewed strength and motivation to improve even further. The prospect of participation in the WTGP in Japan was also very attractive. Therefore I made a constant effort to use all information resources which were available to me. In my free time I was often occupied with further theoretical and practical training. During the daily work in the business I constantly tried to expand my knowledge. For this I also used, among other things, the very informative course materials of our Yamaha importer.
  • Q3Were there any effects in your job after you win the prize at the WTGP? Please introduce us the episode of the positive effects to your professional attitude and others.
    My victory at the WTGP was simply the topic of conversation for my clients. Everyone wanted to know how such a Technician Grand Prix is structured and what tasks I had to solve. Many customers are very proud of my success and often advertise it among other Yamaha riders. They say: "My Yamaha is serviced by the Champion". Such statements naturally fill me with pride and honor. The numerous reports in local, regional and national newspapers and motorcycle magazines have brought me many new customers.
  • Q4Let us know the activities or services your shop doing to go beyond the expectation of the customers if any.
    Clean and accurate work is the key to success. The customer wants to be well and honestly informed about the work which is carried out on his/her motorcycle. The customer often finds information on his/her motorcycle in advance on the Internet. This means that the service staff must treat the customer well and with honesty. The showroom, reception, office and workshop are always clean and well maintained. The tools and facilities are up-to-date and appropriate. Personal appearance is neat and clean. This gives the customer confidence and the certainty that his/her bike is in the right hands.
  • Q5When do you find your job rewarding.
    Fixing difficult and tricky defects or breakdowns is my daily challenge. When the customer picks up the bike, it works perfectly and is clean in the yard, I often see a smile on the customer's face. That gives me a good feeling.
  • Q6What do you want to challenge or be passionately at work from here on?
    New technologies, such as electronic systems, inspire me and make my job varied. I am therefore often required to acquire new knowledge.
  • Q7Please give a message for the 2016 WTGP participants to cheer them up.
    Motorcycle technician is the best and most varied job there is! Enjoy the competition with other technicians from around the world!
    Stay calm and relaxed even when your heart -Revs your Heart- beats faster!
    I wish you all the best, lots of luck and fun!