| Author | Message | ||
     Eboos |
From a post in this thread in November in reference to Suzuki's contingency
Holy crap! I was right on the money here. http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=35685 | ||
| Sd26 |
I think a lot of that additionally was because Mel Harris retired. He really championed the Suzuki Cup Final all these years. It is why the club scene is full of GSXR's even when they aren't the best bike out there compared to other manufacturers. | ||
| Jaimec |
The more things change, the more they stay the same. | ||
| Jaimec |
So... Someone wanna tell me again how running an inferior bike, whining, and complaining is going to have ANY difference at all on the outcome?? | ||
| Jaimec |
It's easy to say the AMA Superbike series has been "The Suzuki Cup." Easy to say it is because of superior machinery and not the talent of their two riders these past several years. I think Mat Mladin just put the lie to all of that nonsense. The bike he won on yesterday was LAST YEAR'S model, purchased at a dealership just the way you or I would buy a bike. Love him or hate him, there's no denying Mladin's talent. Did you know the bike he rode to victory yesterday was an '08 GSXR purchased from a dealership?? Not even an '09 bike because apparently there were "homologation issues" with the '09 model. So much for Suzuki winning all these years because their machines were so much better than everyone elses. Spies and Mladin were what made the difference!! http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Mar/e/n090306d .htm It wasn't the bikes. Mladin and Spies were THAT MUCH BETTER than the rest of the field!! Europe is going to find that out this year. | ||
| Benm2 |
I'm not so sure of that. No one argues that Suzuki has ruled AMA Superbike for years, making the other manufacturers look like they were racing in another class. At least this year (at a HP track) there was a relatively close finish. Sure Mladin is good, but by his own admission the bikes (including his) are slower with the new rules. I had been hoping for more from the new R1, with that super-special firing order and all. | ||
| Jaimec |
Mat Mladin by over 15 seconds! What's DMG gonna do next? Force him to ride with 100 lbs of LEAD?? | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Pretty impressive with all that extra ego on board... | ||
| Gregtonn |
"Did you know the bike he rode to victory yesterday was an '08 GSXR purchased from a dealership??" Yep. Did you know it was modified after it left the dealership? I've watched Maladin race for years. Early on (1990's) he was a good rider but seemed to lose focus on occasion. These days he is one of the most focused riders I have ever seen. Put this kind of talent and experience on top quality machinery and you have a combination that's hard to beat. G | ||
| Jaimec |
I'd say he's earned the right to that ego... | ||
| Bads1 |
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=36005 | ||
| Jaimec |
Betcha Jordan could afford THAT! | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Doesn't matter how many races he wins..with his attitude, you can keep him. Case in point--missing the autograph session in Fontana. Too good for the fans? What a dick. | ||
| Jaimec |
Every time he wins I picture him sticking a knife in Edmondson's back. Success is the BEST revenge! I hope he keeps on what he's doing. | ||
| Sd26 |
You think so? Never saw it that way, and I don't think Roger really thought that Mladin would loose under the new program. Someone should step up. With less off season testing, it's plain to see that Mladin is a machine, which isn't any different from what one sees when one's in the paddock regularly. The guys behind need to stop looking at him and focus on getting their times and set up done faster during the event weekend. I think Taylor Knapp finishing ahead of a Yamaha USA Factory Superbike only legitimizes everything. | ||
| Black |
You know, I have checked out superbikeplanet.com. Was wondering why they were saying the things they were about Buell. Then I found: http://www.quantcast.com/superbikeplanet.com An interesting look at who Superbikeplanet is focused on. Makes me think that Superbikeplanet is kind of the Tiger Beat of motorcycle magazines. I don't mean any disrespect to Tiger Beat...my sister used to love them when she was 12. | ||
| Drummer |
Black, Very interesting...slightly younger audience than I would have thought. | ||
| Imonabuss |
Notice Mladin only won by four seconds over the guys he beat by 30+ seconds yesterday. That bike is far from stock, and probably cost $59,000, but it doesn't have the stuff he had yesterday! I really have no use for Mladin. He's cherry picking here on the very best equipment while whining about the slow riders he has to ride with and the crappy tracks. Fact is the guy doesn't have the balls to go race in the World classes. He'd rather be a big whiney prima donna fish in a small pond. Poor excuse for a racer. If you're at the point where you are beating everyone, you move to the next level, like Nicky, Hopper, Spies, and the many before them like Rainey, Spencer, Roberts. Mladin disgusts me, and so does his cheating team. | ||
| Black |
Drummer, Yup, am with you. I was surprised at the venom of their surveys. I was amazed they would say the things they did. However, now knowing the size of their readership and a little more of their demographic, we have been doing them a favor by paying them so much attention. It is like the old saying, "Don't wrestle with a pig, you get dirty and the pig likes it." | ||
| Jaimec |
Mladin held back towards the end today because he didn't want to risk a bike that had been CRASHED earlier in the day. Whether you win by 10 seconds or by 2 seconds, you still WIN. You don't get any extra points for the gap between first and second. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Mladin is a hoss. He's a great racer, regardless of his personality (real or perceived). I've met him before, and while he wasn't overly friendly (it was shortly before a race, so I understand), he did pause for a picture with my friend:  I can't say much about his ego, since I have no first hand experience. I've spoken with Rose Hayden (Nicky, Roger, & Tommy's mom) and she refused to dog Mladin, but said, "Mat is just Mat". LOL!  Me and Mrs. Hayden:  Now...I did meet a fine gentleman the same weekend I met Mat Mladin. He was VERY friendly. Talked to anyone who'd listen, signed autographs, and even posed for pictures. See if ya recognize this guy (I'm the tall one. LOL!):  | ||
| Buell2001b |
I thought the new Yamaha was supposed to be all that with Rossis input. so far its been suzuki, why does yamaha even show up. seriously!!! | ||
| Jaimec |
It ain't the bike, it's the RIDER. Ben Spies isn't having any problems with the Yamaha over in WSBK. | ||
| Chadhargis |
Agreed. The bike has to be good, but the rider has to be able to extract that goodness. | ||
| Jaimec |
Personally, I LIKE that Mladin is in the series. If a racer beats him, then he's beaten just about the best there is in professional motorcycle racing; at least when you're talking about production-based bikes anyway. When he retires, the racing may be closer... but the wins won't mean as much. The last two to beat him are now competing on the world stage. Nicky Hayden was the World Champion in 2006, having also beaten probably the best rider of all time to do so. Ben Spies is just starting out, but already has all of Europe sitting up and taking notice. So keep on pushing and winning, Mat! Give the new generation of Superbike riders something to aspire to! | ||
| Buellishxx |
No doubting that Mat is the best rider out there, he's proven it to everyone, and like him or not he deserves everyone's respect for his accomplishments. If Buell could pry him away from Suzuki for a couple of years think what that would do for Superbike racing and Buell! | ||
| Jaimec |
Buell would need to get some SERIOUS sponsorship dollars to lure Mat away from Suzuki, unfortunately. Mat's in it for the money these days. | ||
| Jaimec |
Mladin keeps it perfect! I said at the beginning of the season (as soon as I heard he'd be back): Just give him the trophy NOW, and let everyone else contend for second place. DMG's rules have made no difference. | ||
| 4cammer |
"If Buell could pry him away from Suzuki for a couple of years think what that would do for Superbike racing and Buell!" Pass. The man is about as likable as a straight catheter, at least from what I see on the tube. I know it is all about winning, but I'd like to be able to cheer for the rider and the bike... | ||
| Buell2001b |
Jaime, its is the bike. look at Haga is whipping Spies ass big time. Too bad Spies did not go with the superior bike (Ducati) I said it from the begginig of the season. Stoner will win GP. Japp technology is good for my lawnmower that is about it. |
