Mat Mladin retires

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Jul/e/n090731e.htm

Going out at the top of his game. Too bad he didn't give WSBK a try.

 

a credit to the sport and a true class act!

pcb

 

sad to see, he had a phenomenal career.

how much of this is driven by the politics with the AMA/DMG deal?

 

His deal w/yosh was over this year and Suzuki wasn't coming back. He'd have taken a huge pay cut and didn't need the money.

Art

 

He's a class act.

 

Retiring at the end of the season but refuses to race Topeka this weekend due to safety concerns. The DMG saga continues.

 

Again: Mat is/was their safety guy. DMG is in a difficult spot: on the one hand, they want to make money, on the other they want to have a series that doesn't get people hurt. Without substantial spectators and decent sponsorship, getting the two to work together is almost impossible.

I like Roger and his team, they are friends and clients. I don't think this is going to get resolved for a few years, at least until the economy comes back. However, I do like what they are doing. From someone who was a semi-privateer, to see the factories keep their goodies, get special tires, and generally be allowed to bend the rule book to their desires, made me damn mad. It was time for a change.

Just take a look back at the AMA: inconsistent rule regulation, some of the individuals were caught stealing, most took favors from the various manufacturers, and some of them were employees of the manufacturers. It stunk, really stunk. Change isn't going to come cheap, but it will come, and the sport will be better for it.

Art

 

Art I would be interested in your opinion on the Buell and Aprilia twins racing with the 600's. Many people have a problem with it because the twins are so much bigger and have more power, although the Buell rider that seems to be able to win is Danny Eslick. IMO, just leave it alone as it stands as the racing is good w/o one brand winning at every track.

 

As I said before I appreciate your insight. I truly do. I know some of these people from minor involvement in the museum. Some who got fired and some who still work walking on eggs. They were ripe for a takeover and this economy has all of racing by the balls.

 

I didn't like it then, and still don't, even though a client of mine runs one of those teams. They need to slow the Buell down, it's way too fast. However, because of the class of riders, they haven't won everything. That will change next year, when they get better riders. That won't be good, they need to slow them down a bit, say restrictors on the intake, as they did with the TZ750s in the 70s. The spectators need a better show, where anyone of a group of people could win. That comes about when you've got essentially equal vehicles, and the only difference is the riders, who's on that day....., etc.

Art

 

I'm gonna miss Matt.

 

Matt had a good race yesterday and almost took the championship but Hayden moved up a spot taking the fight to the next round. Although I'm not a big follower of motorcycle racing he is one racer I'm familiar with and he has nothing else to prove.

Adios Mat.