| Author | Message | ||
     Spatten1 |
Henrik, Didn't Eric Bostrom keep up with Hayden on a 750 with a 5 year old chassis? Mladin did not. | ||
| Spatten1 |
To clarify the above, E Boss was on a Kawi 750, and fought most weekends with Hayden. We can blame Mladin's bike, but that certainly would not put him in the league with the GP guys. | ||
| Henrik |
Didn't say anything about Matt Mladin's chances in MotoGP  But this link ought to point out how well Mladin holds his own in AMA Superbike  Henrik | ||
| Spatten1 |
I'd never question that Mladin is one of the best, I'm just saying that when Hayden was in AMA and Bostrum was on a 750 that he could spin up like a flat tracker that Mladin was not kicking everyone's •••. | ||
| Spatten1 |
I also have to say that Mladin is finally getting payback now for riding a pretty weak bike for quite some time. At his age he deserves a break. | ||
| Blake |
Matt is a top rider in the world. I'd like to see him give the MotoGP a go, but Suzuki has nothing for him to ride there that is competitive. I just wish the guy would loosen up once in a while. He's always so dead serious. He certainly is the consumate pro. Five championships is it now? Tough to argue with. | ||
| 12r |
Matt Mladin would never make it in MotoGP. When you all go to Laguna this year, you'll see how intense, REALLY INTENSE the competition is. Yamaha lit the fuse last year and the whole show is now even further out of reach of the Superbike wannabes. I love Superbikes but if you do one thing this year, go to Laguna July 10. | ||
| BadS1 |
Matt wouldn't make it in GP??? Nicky Hayden,Hopkins,are there and doing it.Please elaborate?? | ||
| Spatten1 |
Nicky is a better rider head to head than Matt. He beat Matt dirt tracking it in AMA races with the rear hanging out in every corner. He tried the same style in MotoGP and got smoked. His corner speed was too slow. Now that he is riding the front, as you have to do on today's tires, his speed is up, but he is struggling with the limits. Rossi goes wide, and Hayden goes into the gravel. Matt is a great rider, but nobody since the 80's has switched from AMA to GP and been successful right out of the box. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Also, Hopkins has never been on the Podium. I'd like to think he'd be great on a better bike, but he needs to leave Suzuki before we'll know for sure. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Please read the above post as "successful rider" not "great rider". | ||
| 12r |
BadS1: Doing it yes, winning err...no. There are no prizes for pole position (apart from a BMW Z4 LOL) Hayden and Hopper are great riders, but the level of competition this year is awesome. 2 DNFs, a 7th and a 14th ? And these guys beat Mladin - what does that say about him ? | ||
| Buelluk |
12r Hayden fell off in one race, Hopper fell off in one race and his motor is unrelaible and currently off the pace...what's that got to do with Mladin's riding ability ! | ||
| 12r |
Buelluk: Err...everything. Hayden fell off whilst in a comfortable 3rd, Hopper fell off because he was trying too hard. Whatever, if they can make mistakes like this and they are both allegedly better riders than Mladin it follows that the best Mladin can hope for in MotoGP is a top ten finish now and again. QED. | ||
| Jscott |
When again did Hopper beat Miladin? When Nicky did get the best of Miladin (which was rarely) it was also the last year of the Suzuki 750cc four vs. the Honda 1000cc twin. Like him or not, Miladin on an equal bike with the competition in MotoGp would be a force to reckon with. (Message edited by jscott on April 29, 2005) | ||
| Buelluk |
Just because they are in MotoGP does no t make them 'allegedly better riders' . As we have discussed intermabily further up this thread, MotoGP teams make decisions based on the number of machines available, support budgets ,market and nationality driven issues etc. I think assuming that because Hayden and Hopper fell off ,that Mladin would do the same is slightly foolish, I mean wouldn't this model work with the Rossi and Gibernau variables as well, after all Gibernau has fallen in both the last GPs. I would hate to specualte about Hayden and Hopper's riding ability under pressure at the end of the season , when they will be under a lot more pressure concerning contract renewal, after all we are talking about the their current form at the beginning of the season. BTW , I am pro-Hopkins because he has British parents, pro-Hayden becase he is a rock climber ( although I may be confusing him here with E-Boz) and pro-Mladin , because I have family in Oz and Suzuki's have such pretty team colours. I think they would all do well together in MotoGp at the same time. I have never understood the fuss about Gibernau and Biaggi - overwrought Latin primadonnas the pair of 'em | ||
| Spatten1 |
JScott, didn't Eric Bostrum regularly beat Mladin the same year, both on a 750? Bostrom kept up with Hayden's 1000. | ||
| Henrik |
didn't Eric Bostrom regularly beat Mladin the same year, both on a 750? Bostrom kept up with Hayden's 1000. I've actually been searching the web for the race results of that year since you mentioned it in a previous post. Haven't been able to dig anything out yet. Do you have the results of the races of that year - more than just the winner? Henrik | ||
| Uncle_bob |
I remember watching most of the races during the 2002 season when Mladin struggled on the 750. Didn't he crash right before Daytona receiving a broken arm and collar bone? He didn't become competitive until later in the season after that. By that time Hayden and Duhamel had a sizable lead on everybody. Bostrom was the only factor. To me, MotoGP and AMA Superbike are worlds apart. Different bikes and different riding styles. Any rider that makes the switch seems to struggle. Say what you want about Mladin's attitude. He's an incredible rider. Saying he would only make the top ten a few times if he where to switch to MotoGP is a little suspect.  | ||
| Vonsliek |
ok .. having watched mladin's recent form & riding style .. i think on a honda or yam, he cld totally hold his own in motogp .. infact, i'll go out on a limb & say he has a riding style somewhat like rossi's .. maybe a LOT cleaner tho, but i'll put that down to the near unridable chariots in mgp ... didn't #100 ducati - forget his name, brit guy - run in mgp & find it almost impossible to keep anywhere near rossi??! its true .. & he can't get near mladin by the current look of things. rossi late brakes, early apexes & wangs the throttle as soon as he has made his wide corners & use the terrifying accel. of mgp bike to get moving .. smooth like biaggi tries to be seems against what the prototypes wanna do?! i don't mean to be a wanker, its just how i read it .. i think mladin wld maybe find podium unfamiliar in mgp, but i seriously doubt a man of his experience & fierce determination wld be too far away. hayden wld do well to copy rossi's style .. afterall, the rc211v MUST be better than when rossi was riding it .. early apexes & wang the throttle hard as hell seems to be the way .. don't try to tame the beast, just hold on for dear life .. anyway, rossi comes off every now & then .. those machines are just crazy badass! also, i watched an interview w/ hopkins mum & i watched him too & they have a VERY distinctive australian accent .. even now, john boy sounds a bit aussie. respectfully, paul. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Henrik, I didn't research anything, I just remember Bostrom giving Hayden fits toward the end of the season. It was increadible, considering how out of date the Kawi 750 was at the time and how good the Honda was. Boss just rode the crap out of it, sliding the front like the WSB guys at the time and the rear like the Americans. Paul may be right about Mladin being injured early that season, I can't remember. | ||
| Jscott |
From AMASUPERBIKE.com - they have 2004 listed as well, but not formatted as nicely as 2003 back. Check out 2002 with Pascal Picotte riding consistently on the VR1000 coming in fourth place in points. Year-by-Year Results 2003 SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP 2003 SUPERBIKE Date Location Winner Mach. March 9 Daytona Beach, FL Miguel Duhamel, Las Vegas, NV Honda April 5 Fontana, CA Mathew Mladin, Sydney, Australia Suzuki April 6 Fontana, CA Mathew Mladin, Sydney, Australia Suzuki May 4 Sonoma, CA Mathew Mladin, Sydney, Australia Suzuki May 5 Sonoma, CA Mathew Mladin, Sydney, Australia Suzuki May 17 Braselton, GA Aaron Yates, Milledgeville, GA Suzuki May 18 Braselton, GA Mathew Mladin, Sydney, Australia Suzuki June 1 Fountain, CO Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, NV Kawasaki June 7 Elkhart Lake, WI Mathew Mladin, Sydney, Australia Suzuki June 8 Elkhart Lake, WI Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, NV Kawasaki June 29 Brainerd, MN Aaron Yates, Milledgeville, GA Suzuki July 12 Monterey, CA Mathew Mladin, Sydney, Australia Suzuki July 26 Lexington, OH Mathew Mladin, Sydney, Australia Suzuki July 28 Lexington, OH Mathew Mladin, Sydney, Australia Suzuki August 30 Alton, VA Mathew Mladin, Sydney, Australia Suzuki September 1 Alton, VA Kurtis Roberts, Hickman, CA Honda September 20 Birmingham, AL Aaron Yates, Milledgeville, GA Suzuki September 21 Birmingham, AL Kurtis Roberts, Hickman, CA Honda 2003 SUPERBIKE POINT STANDINGS Pos. Name, Hometown Pts. 1 Mathew Mladin, Sydney, Australia 550 2 Aaron Yates, Milledgeville, GA 519 3 Kurtis Roberts,Hickman, CA 474 4 Ben Bostrom, Las Vegas, NV 462 5 Miguel Duhamel, Las Vegas, NV 417 6 Shawn Higbee, big bend, WI 396 7 Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, NV 350 8 Jason Pridmore, Ventura, CA 339 9 Vincent Haskovec, Lake Elsinore, CA 285 10 Jordan Szoke, Ontario, Canada 283 2002 SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP 2002 SUPERBIKE Date Location Winner Mach. March 10 Daytona Beach, FL Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda April 6 Fontana, CA Anthony Gobert, Australia Yamaha April 7 Fontana, CA Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda May 4 Sonoma, CA Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda May 5 Sonoma, CA Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda May 18 Braselton, GA Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda May 19 Braselton, GA Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda June 2 Fountain, CO Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, NV Kawasaki June 8 Elkhart Lake, WI Miguel Duhamel, Las Vegas, NV Honda June 9 Elkhart Lake, WI Miguel Duhamel, Las Vegas, NV Honda June 30 Brainerd, MN Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda July 13 Monterey, CA Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, NV Kawasaki July 27 Lexington, OH Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, NV Kawasaki July 28 Lexington, OH Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda August 10 Alton, VA Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda August 11 Alton, VA Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, NV Kawasaki 2002 SUPERBIKE POINT STANDINGS Pos. Name, Hometown Pts. 1 Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY 488 2 Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, NV 451 3 Miguel Duhamel, Las Vegas, NV 381 4 Pascal Picotte, Canada, QU 350 5 Aaron Yates, Milledgeville, GA 345 6 Brian Parriott, Calistoga, CA 308 7 Mathew Mladin, Australia 300 8 Doug Chandler, Salinas, CA 294 9 Brian Livengood, Snellville, GA 294 10 Jamie Hacking, Greer, SC 2001 SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP 2001 SUPERBIKE Date Location Winner Mach. March 11 Daytona Beach, FL Mathew Mladn, Australia Suzuki May 8 Sonoma, CA Anthony Gobert, Tuscany Hills, CA Yamaha May 19 Braselton, GA Jamie Hacking, Boiling Springs, SC Suzuki May 20 Braselton, GA Mathew Mladin, Australia Suzuki June 19 Elkhart Lake, WI Mathew Mladin, Australia Suzuki June 20 Elkhart Lake, WI Anthony Gobert, Tuscany Hills, CA Yamaha June 18 Lougon, NH Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, NV Kawasaki July 8 Monterey, CA Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, NV Kawasaki July 21 Lexington, OH Mathew Mladin, Australia Suzuki July 22 Lexington, OH Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda July 29 Brainerd, MN Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda August 26 Fountain, CO Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda September 30 Alton, VA Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY Honda 2001 SUPERBIKE POINT STANDINGS Pos. Name, Hometown Pts. 1 Mathew Mladin, Australia 380 2 Eric Bostrom, Las Vegas, NV 365 3 Nicky Hayden, Owensboro, KY 340 4 Doug Chandler, Salinas, CA 319 5 Miguel Duhamel, Sarasota, FL 300 6 Tommy Hayden, Owensboro, KY 293 7 Steve Rapp, Corona, cA 268 8 Jamie Hacking, Boiling Springs, SC 267 9 Kurtis Roberts,M odesto, CA 253 10 Andreas Meklau, Austria 235 | ||
| Jscott |
EBoz is back!! currently in second behind Mladin in current Fontana practice session. | ||
| Team |
Uncle Bob, You are Correct Mladin was out most of season the year Nicky won. | ||
| Vikingdave |
Mladin already road in Moto GP when it was the 500cc smokey GP class back in the day, he was teamates with Eddie Lawson in the late 80's early 90's for Cagiva!!!The guy is very talented on a very strong team and machine. | ||
| José_quiñones |
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| Charlieboy6649 |
It was amazing seeing Mladin run Fontana. He was so far out front on all three starts! Too bad he DNF'd, no one was close. He had that race locked up. I think he could go GP.  You could just see his frustration...  He eventually threw the bike down and walked to the infield... Anyone who breaks his own track record twice in one weekend with no one close is the MAN! | ||
| Vonsliek |
& STILL he's SO quick & happy to thanks the motorcycle he rides for being so good!! i got the buell xb12r for its character this year over the gsx-r1000 .. well, this ain't helping me put that bike out of my mind. i think its the prettiest superbike outside the ducati 999/749 | ||
| Al_lighton |
No denying he is a great rider. And he seemed to be pretty good with the fans after race 2 from what I saw. But he shouldn't be in AMA, he should be in GP already. He isn't proving anything in AMA. Looks like the other Yoshimura Suzuki riders can take care of the marketing efforts for the GSXR just fine, push him up where he belongs. Might even help Suzuki get the MotoGP effort back on track. When his tranny fragged in race 1, I thought his behavior was less than admirable. While coasting around the track farkling with his shifter, he was a hazard to the other riders, paying more attention to his bike than the fact that he was coasting in and out of the other riders lines on turn 5/6 (I think that is the first hairpins designation, not sure). Then when he finally came to a stop in that picture Charlieboy posts above, he sat there, ON THE TRACK, for close to a minute before just pushing the bike over. That seemed pretty lame to me. He could have pushed it 5 feet off the track before pushing it down. I don't care if he is #1, he should have a little more respect for the other riders safety if you ask me. Must have attended the Aaron Yates school of rider etiquette. Al | ||
| Charlieboy6649 |
LOL @ the Yates comment! Yea, when the track worker had to go pick up the bike and push it off the track to the infield, I thought that was crap.  He could have pulled it off in the first place. Still cool to see him ride! He is good. |
