| Author | Message | ||
     Toona |
Mladin to retire at end of season | ||
| Crusty |
Hasta la vista, baby. | ||
| Blake |
Good bye! | ||
| Rubberdown |
End of an remarkable era. Congratulations to MM.  | ||
| Jimidan |
He has been one of the best! I would have liked to see him go to WSB with Ben...who knows what would have happened? But it would have been fun to watch. I think that Matt does better on a true highly modded Superbike than the AMA version. He has the capability to ride MotoGP and do well, but he is just too darned old I guess. Wonder if he will stay in the states or move? | ||
| Maru |
MM is a great rider! He is one of the best point and shoot riders ever. He is heavy on the brakes, square up the bike, drive out hard kind of guy. His setups have always been on the extreme side to take full advantage of his style as one would expect. This has clearly worked for him on our race tracks. Spies has a more fluid style and had a more neutral setup, more level if you will setup. This also clearly worked for him on our tracks, but since most tracks in the old country are more flowing, Spies natural style is better suited. While I am sure MM would win races over there, I am not sure he would be the success over there that Ben has been even though in my opinion he was a match for him here. | ||
| Jaimec |
Several years ago, Mat had permission to practice at Philip Island with the WSBK riders since he missed practices in the States. He WAXED the field including the current (at the time) world champion Troy Corser who was also riding a GSXR1000. Mat would've been AWESOME in WSBK. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
So as someone fairly new to motorcycle racing, what kept him out of wsbk, his charming personality??? | ||
| Blake |
Jaime, Matt raced the WSBK paddock a number of times. He was the one who got the WAXED. Practice times are not a good indicator of full distance race performance. | ||
| Maru |
What kept him out of wsbk was that he was a very highly paid rider and wsbk would required a pay cut. | ||
| Doerman |
I can understand. Ten years ago I had stayed 5 years to long in a boring and un-challenging job, because the pay was good and the future secure. I changed.. Made less money initially. And am a much happier man today. Some people fall in the money trap and become bitter as a result. Life's too short and it ain't worth it. Glad Mat Mladin is realizing it and moving on to something else. | ||
| Bads1 |
Now lets see if he can stay retired. In New Jersey he will cry. We will cry with him. Then he'll comeback after all. Then he will repeat the crap again. Brett Favre,Jordan etc..... God I hope not. | ||
| Jaimec |
In the past three years that Elbowz won the AMA Superbike title, Mat actually won more races than Ben... he just didn't have Ben's consistency. But then Mat openly admitted he didn't care about points... he wanted the race win. In the words of Dale Earnhardt: Second place is just the first loser. I'm not sure how long ago he was in WSBK, Blake... but I'm pretty damned sure that if he were in it these past few years, he would've cleaned house just as Ben Spies is doing now. Nobody else in AMA is even close to that level of competition. | ||
| Blake |
Funny how they cannot be close yet they manage to beat him in races. You're too funny. | ||
| Blake |
Did Mladin not race against the WSBK field when they used to race at Laguna and the AMA teams could also compete? | ||
| Jaimec |
Mat's record stands for itself, Blake. I don't need to defend him to you. Obviously, the only time you admire a racer is when he enjoys a nearly 75% displacement advantage over his competition... | ||
| Court |
I find myself continuing to wander if some of these guys ascribe to such high standards that they'd forego racing in Topeka due to their personal safety concerns. Yet . . . and I'm assuming for a minute that they share any of these foolish "displacement disparity" concerns, they stand mute with regard to what some see as blatant bending, breaking, choose whatever term you want . . . of the rules. I'm curious about folks who are capable of having such widely disparate values, standards and ethics in varying areas of their life. | ||
| Bob_thompson |
I personally think, just from the looks on Mladin's face, most of the time, and his somewhat uninteresting, lackadaisical interviews, that he is just bitter after having some great racing with Ben Spies and watching Ben move to World Superbike and being highly successful, now in second place. Maybe he'll really retire but wouldn't it be nice to see them dicing it out again in that "other" form of motosports or maybe Moto GP. | ||
| Indybuell |
See yah Matt! Take Jamie with you! Go get crushed in SBK. | ||
| Bads1 |
I don't think Mat would get crushed. Spies in no way ever crushed Mat. So why would you say he would get crushed. I think theres a couple riders in WSB that could possibly give Spies a handful if on better equipment. | ||
| Jaimec |
The equipment over in WSBK is all pretty top of the line. Remember, Tom Sykes is on IDENTICAL equipment as Ben Spies, yet is no podium threat at all. Everybody figured Ben wouldn't do nearly as well in WSBK as he did in AMA because he wouldn't have the same perceived "equipment advantage" that he (and supposedly Mladin) had with Yoshimura Suzuki. He's proven pretty conclusively in my eyes that it wasn't the equipment... it is his skill and talent that puts him above the rest. If the bikes were that dominant, you'd see Spies and Sykes fighting one-and-two in WSBK as you do seeing Lorenzo and Rossi in MotoGP. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
If the bikes were that dominant, you'd see Spies and Sykes fighting one-and-two in WSBK as you do seeing Lorenzo and Rossi in MotoGP. So using that method of thinking, Barney & Taylor should also be fighting for the DSB title, RIGHT? I mean after all they have a 75% displacement advantage. RIGHT? Maybe they should homologate a Victory Vision with a 1731cc motor. The Vision would have a 188% displacement advantage and with your way of thinking it have one hell of an advantage over the po' little 600s. Think about what you are trying to say for a second. There are some arguments against the Buell in DSB, but basing it purely on displacement is not one. | ||
| Rhun |
I never thought of Topeka HPT as being that unsafe.I've raced there several times. Compared to Hallet MAM, GIR, Cresson and Eagle canyon it is the epitome of safety. There seem to be riders that have safety concern with every track on the AMA circuit. It certainly is a riders prerogative to not ride. But if I had talent like Matt and Hacking I think I would be looking at least a slower pace for the points and my fans. It is my understanding that HPT will make what ever changes are needed for next year. The AMA approved the track and M4 Suzuki was there last month for press promos. If it had been really dangerous seems like that would have come up. At other events I see bikes flipping all over the place when riders go off course. All I saw a Topeka didn't, in fact many were able to motocross back on the track and continue. | ||
| Jaimec |
I am not arguing about DMG here. In fact, I'm done. I think it's STUPID, and most of you here think it's great and neither one of us will ever convince the other so it's a pointless argument. We're talking about Mat Mladin and World Superbike. Not DMG and their idiotic, changes-every-minute rule book. | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Everybody figured Ben wouldn't do nearly as well in WSBK as he did in AMA because he wouldn't have the same perceived "equipment advantage" that he (and supposedly Mladin) had with Yoshimura Suzuki. He's proven pretty conclusively in my eyes that it wasn't the equipment... it is his skill and talent that puts him above the rest. If the bikes were that dominant, you'd see Spies and Sykes fighting one-and-two in WSBK as you do seeing Lorenzo and Rossi in MotoGP. So true Ben has an awful lot of talent...I was completely surprised at how well he is doing...amazing riding he is doing over there...amazing. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Yeah Jamie, I agree the DSB racing really blows. Who on earth would want to watch that crap? Superbikes rule! The displacement argument is very un-sophisticated. stupidbikeplanet type of nonesense. I would expect better from you. | ||
| Blublak |
Comparing apples to cumquats - OLD AMA Superbike and Current WSBK. The OLD rules AMA SBKs' Yoshimura bikes were pretty close to MotoGP in thinking. Anything goes, no matter the price. I mean, think of it, when a 600cc SuperSport "Showroom" bike (from a factory team) only costs $350,000.00 you know there's nothing really trick about it. Who knows how big the budgets for 'Unobtanium SuperDuperBikes' from the factory teams were. They'll never tell... just remember, in '05 it was revealed that a Yoshimura Suzuki had only 2 stock parts on it. The main frame spar - and an outer engine cover. EVERYTHING else was custom one offs. The fact is, IF Ben were riding his '07 AMA Suzuki Superbike in WSBK right now, EVERYONE would notice as he checked out on the competition.. EVERY RACE. World Superbike is MUCH closer to stock then those bikes were. This makes it more affordable for the teams, so they can have fuller grids and more close competition. It's a beautiful thing. That's kind of what's happened here in AMA. The guys on the factory rides no longer have computer controlled forks etc. They are having to relearn how to ride 'normal' bikes. Mat and Ben have only shown what anyone that has watched them can tell you. BOTH are extremely talented riders with great minds for racing. Ben has been called (by another former champion I was hanging with a while back) the FINEST racing mind he's seen in years. Ben doesn't just ride, he plans, he looks at everything and makes adjustments constantly. Sound like anyone else you've heard of? WSBK, WSS and DSB are the best racing we'll get here in the states this year, and if all goes well, next year as well. WSBK and WSS are very set in their ways. AMA was much worse (they refused to allow the Ducati Factory team to bring the WSBK 999 to the US - it may have been able to legitimately challenge for a podium in the dry).. I know for people that can't think outside the box, the changes in AMA racing don't make much sense. But, that's what happens when you have a committee trying to determine the rules of a series and then dictate that to the owner. Remember, not that long ago, Edmondson (who started CCS for christ sakes here!) wanted something like this... SUPERBIKE - Basically going to full WSBK Rules within three years - SPORTBIKE - HP/Weight regulated class - Run what ya brung. SuperSport - a 600cc SHOW-room class no tuning or heavy mods allowed. MotoST - Twins Endurance Series. Rookies Cup - 125cc Two smokes with kids aboard. It was the US factory reps that shot that all to hell. Going back to it all.. Mladin would be way too old to race WSBK now. He needs to learn the tracks and while he's proven he can get his setup down in a hurry, why would he want too? Running all over the world, staying away from his family for much longer periods of time.. For what? He's got nothing to prove to 'them over there'. He's proved himself here. Against some really top quality talent.. Don't believe me? Look at some of the riders in the AMA and where else they have ridden (and do ride)... Ok.. I'm done sorry for 'ranting' so long.. | ||
| Blake |
That's the best rant I've heard in a long time! Not counting my own of course. ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Going back to it all.. Mladin would be way too old to race WSBK now. He needs to learn the tracks and while he's proven he can get his setup down in a hurry, why would he want too? Running all over the world, staying away from his family for much longer periods of time.. For what? He's got nothing to prove to 'them over there'. He's proved himself here. Against some really top quality talent.. Don't believe me? Look at some of the riders in the AMA and where else they have ridden (and do ride)... Ok.. I'm done sorry for 'ranting' so long.. You have a good point about Mladin, he has six AMA titles and about to get seven, he is a talent no doubt, fast, good rider but I remember back when Neil Hodgeson won WSBK the AMA ran with WSBK at Laguna that year and he didn't finish the race, mind you he dropped back quite a bit and maybe figured he didn't want to use up all his energy on that race and be spent for the AMA race. Dropped back I mean in the top 10 but not running upfront, as far as Hacking goes he had some chances to ride WSBK not long ago on the kawasaki riding for Broc Parkes..and he did get smoked like a cheap cigar over there, again, that doesn't mean he is a bad rider, it means the learning new tracks against guys that know them better and not having the youth and talent of Ben Spies, Hacking did ride to a top ten finish on a MotoGP bike at Laguna in the recent past.....but you do make very good points and some I disagree with, especially about DMG. The recent interview with Roger Edmondson didn't really change my mind about the series and what his vision of it is, the incident with Johnny Rock Page and Al Ludington also didn't fill me with hope that we have the right mix of people running the AMA/DMG, but they are and I am just a spectator so I can do like many have said in the past, turn it off or not..my choice. While you make an interesting point about the stock levels of the WSBK teams and affordability and closeness of racing, I would like to point out that the FIM promoter seems to have a better handle on MOTORCYCLE racing that the current DMG promoted national championship here, agree to disagree I think, but still good points and thoughtful discussion. | ||
| Blublak |
First Off.. Thank you Blake.. Liquor.. I know Edmondson can sound like a prick at times. Heck, I don't agree with everything that that he says or does.. However, he is the man in charge and he did need to reign in all the weirdness going on here in AMA.. I don't think he's quite got a handle on it yet. But you have to agree it's only his first year and it's been a while since he worked bikes. I know a lot of folks will agree that using the NASCAR model for bikes is a mistake and I do agree that FIM has a better handle on Motorcycle Racing and Race fans. However, I'd still like to see them 'open up' their racing some. If I remember correctly, WSBK events usually feature local talent as support races. Not sure if it's always the national series running or if it includes the semi-pros, but still that helps as well. The protectionist attitude that AMA had toward this in the last few years always made me wonder. At Miller, AMA would run a different configuration, they said to improve the racing action for the fans. I think it was meant to stop direct comparisons between the two series. At Laguna, they can always say "Hey, those are GP bikes, not 'production' based racers." While I am enjoying DSB and starting to like AMA SBK a little more... It's still not perfect (what is?). As for the Ludington thing, I could see docking him a second or two on his finish IF he really did ignore the blue flag. But, that whole screaming rant.. well.. Yeah, that was so unprofessional it's not even funny. Perhaps, Roger E. needs to take a look at getting some of the 'old blood' out of the system and injecting a new group of people in there. Folks that aren't tied to any of the manufactures aside from being bike fans? People that will print a rule book and then follow it. That means the teams KNOW when they are going to get dinged and how hard for whatever they are getting up too. It's our 'national' series so we should try and support honest, straight up improvement. Just doing what everyone else did already doesn't seem to make good sense. But then again, I'm not in a position where a ton of MY money is riding on the outcome. But if asked, I'd be happy to serve in some capacity to try and improve the series' running in AMA. Who knows, maybe one day, we'll all be proud of at least one series running and can smile about all the growing pains the DMG & Co. is having. It's not easy to jump into a new job that's already established itself, I've done it in business and it's not a fun thing, getting people to change their ways (People in general don't like change it seems - easier to just go along to get along, No?) But I'd be up for the challenge if Mr. Edmondson should call... Well.. you know. Uh Oh.. Looks like more (mini)ranting on my part.. sorry.. Oh and I still think CCS/ASRA and WERA have some of the best racing in the US. And yes, even they need some improvement. But then again, you're not going to please all the people all the time. |
