Who WOULDN'T sell their journalism soul for free parts? As for obvious product placement, I read no such thing. All I read was his opinions of the products he used. Then again it could have been the result of a couple hundred from each manufacturer. No realistic way of knowing.
Someone who still has their dignity, self respect , integrity and above all else the commonsense not to become a hollow sell out. You could do with some reading on what the "Cash for Comment" scandal uncovered and start religiously viewing ABC's Media Watch at 9.20 every Monday night. After a few weeks you will have the skills to spot blatantly obvious product placements. Most films are full of product placement adverts (for locations as well).
The problem with product placement (if that's what this is) in articles like this and the KTM one, is that it removes the objectiveness of the writer. If pro circuit pays MXA to do something like this, then you as the reader are just getting told what Pro circuit wants you to hear, not what the writer actually thinks of the product.
To do an objective "ultimate" build, they should have compared products from a number of different sources and tried different combinations....to come up with the best bike.
That's about the size of it Evo, moreover they treat the reader with contempt.
