I really enjoy reading the comments from your readers on news items. Especially from what I would guess, and this is my opinion only, are a bunch of armchair racers like myself and they think they have the superior knowledge to bash HD's racing efforts. How many of you are mechanical engineers, MMI grads, etc to comment on why they don't finish races. Point is that HD started from scratch and have to spend years getting up to the level that other manufacturers have been at for years.
As for why he rides for them? Probably the same reason that Duhamel did...try something different, show that you can ride competitively on a bike that is in development and make some money. HD has the $$ to pay these guys to stay. Imagine his worth to the other factories if he gets a first on that harley. As a fellow canadian, I can say that Picotte has come a long way from a crazy street squid that used to scare the stuffing out of his fellow riders. He's a millionaire now, and your US dollars are worth a bunch more than ours.
Snowmobiles? They are fast and with the great trails in Quebec, it is easy to go too fast. We just had our eighth snowmobile related death this winter in a small province. 100+ hp and 120 mph top speeds at night can be interesting.
Regards,
nidan