Mat Mladin
Encyclopedia
Mathew "Mat" Mladin is a retired Australia
n professional motorcycle racer who last raced for Yoshimura
Suzuki
in the AMA Superbike
series. He won the title seven times (no other rider has won more than three), and holds series records for wins (75, breaking Miguel Duhamel
's previous record of 27), poles (50), wins in a season (11) and poles in a season (10).
, Mladin began his professional racing career in 1992. He won the Australian Superbike Championship
that year, and made his debut in the 500cc
class the following year. A plane crash in 1995 nearly cost him his foot, but he returned in time to finish second in the Australian Superbike championship.
, and finished fourth overall. He switched to Fast By Ferracci Ducati the following year and finished third in the championship before returning to Suzuki for 1998 where he again finished third. He finally broke through to win the 1999 championship. Remaining with Suzuki as of 2007, he went on to take the title in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005, with a second-place finish behind Ben Spies
in 2006 (despite winning the final 5 races, after making some riding style changes to cope with his young team-mate ). Mladin also finished runner up in the Championship to Spies again in 2007, losing by one point.
Mladin is a three-time winner of the Daytona 200
(2000, 2001, 2004). He has also made wild card
appearances in Superbike World Championship
races, taking pole position in the class at Laguna Seca in 2003.
On 20 August 2008, AMA Pro Racing issued a press release announcing the disqualification of Mladin from the previous weekend's AMA Superbike National round at Virginia International Raceway. The press release indicated that the crankshaft from Mladin's bike was found, after comparison with a stock "control" part kept by the AMA, to have violated Superbike class rules, which require an essentially stock crankshaft to be used. The Team Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki's appeal of the penalty was summarily dismissed as being, "without merit," by AMA/DMG
on 5 September 2008. As a result, with only one round remaining in the championship, Ben Spies' numerical advantage in the championship points became unassailable and Mladin lost the championship for the 3rd year in a row to Spies.
On 31 July 2009, Mladin announced that he would retire from the AMA Superbike Championship at the end of the season. The announcement came as Mladin refused to take part in that weekend's round at Heartland Park Topeka
, Kansas due to concerns over rider safety at the circuit. Mladin is known for his campaign for improved rider safety through improvements into the circuits.
, with his wife and two children.
Mladin is a private individual; in 1998 he commented that "I don't enjoy all the press side of things at all, I enjoy my racing and I enjoy winning like nothing else.".
Mladin also lends his name to a company that imports motorcycle clothing and aftermarket
accessories. As of 1 July 2009 this changed to Bike Gear Warehouse and sells online only.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional motorcycle racer who last raced for Yoshimura
Pops Yoshimura
Hideo "Pops" Yoshimura was a motorcycle tuner, race team owner and manufacturer of speciality motorcycle accessories. He is remembered for his ties to the beginnings of AMA Superbike racing and the Suzuki factory racing team...
Suzuki
Suzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
in the AMA Superbike
AMA Superbike
AMA Pro Superbike is the premiere superbike racing series in the United States. It is part of the AMA Pro Racing series which was sold to and is managed by the Daytona Motorsports Group...
series. He won the title seven times (no other rider has won more than three), and holds series records for wins (75, breaking Miguel Duhamel
Miguel Duhamel
Miguel Duhamel is a Canadian motorcycle racer, the son of Canadian Motorsport Hall of Famer Yvon Duhamel. He is the second winningest rider in the AMA Superbike series at 32 wins and most wins in the with AMA SuperSport series...
's previous record of 27), poles (50), wins in a season (11) and poles in a season (10).
Early years (1992-1995)
Born in Camden, a suburb of SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Mladin began his professional racing career in 1992. He won the Australian Superbike Championship
Superbike racing
Superbike racing is a category of motorcycle racing that employs modified production motorcycles. Superbike World Championship is the international superbike championship, and national superbike championships are held in many countries as well, including the United Kingdom, the United States,...
that year, and made his debut in the 500cc
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
class the following year. A plane crash in 1995 nearly cost him his foot, but he returned in time to finish second in the Australian Superbike championship.
AMA (1996-2009)
Mladin joined the AMA Superbike series in 1996, riding for Yoshimura SuzukiSuzuki
is a Japanese multinational corporation headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan that specializes in manufacturing compact automobiles and 4x4 vehicles, a full range of motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles , outboard marine engines, wheelchairs and a variety of other small internal combustion engines...
, and finished fourth overall. He switched to Fast By Ferracci Ducati the following year and finished third in the championship before returning to Suzuki for 1998 where he again finished third. He finally broke through to win the 1999 championship. Remaining with Suzuki as of 2007, he went on to take the title in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005, with a second-place finish behind Ben Spies
Ben Spies
Ben Spies , also known as "Elbowz" due to his riding style where his elbows protrude outward, is a professional motorcycle road racer who turned pro in 2000...
in 2006 (despite winning the final 5 races, after making some riding style changes to cope with his young team-mate ). Mladin also finished runner up in the Championship to Spies again in 2007, losing by one point.
Mladin is a three-time winner of the Daytona 200
Daytona 200
The Daytona 200 is a 68-lap, motorcycle race held annually at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.-History:The race evolved from a beach racing venue in 1937 to the Daytona International Speedway course in 1961....
(2000, 2001, 2004). He has also made wild card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
appearances in Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship
Superbike World Championship is the worldwide Superbike racing Championship. The championship was founded in . The Superbike World Championship season consists of a series of rounds held on permanent racing facilities...
races, taking pole position in the class at Laguna Seca in 2003.
On 20 August 2008, AMA Pro Racing issued a press release announcing the disqualification of Mladin from the previous weekend's AMA Superbike National round at Virginia International Raceway. The press release indicated that the crankshaft from Mladin's bike was found, after comparison with a stock "control" part kept by the AMA, to have violated Superbike class rules, which require an essentially stock crankshaft to be used. The Team Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki's appeal of the penalty was summarily dismissed as being, "without merit," by AMA/DMG
DMG
DMG may refer to:*DMG Radio Australia, owner of the Nova and Classic Rock radio networks*.dmg file, the Apple Disk Image file format used in the Mac OS X computer operating system*Daily Mail and General Trust, an international media company...
on 5 September 2008. As a result, with only one round remaining in the championship, Ben Spies' numerical advantage in the championship points became unassailable and Mladin lost the championship for the 3rd year in a row to Spies.
On 31 July 2009, Mladin announced that he would retire from the AMA Superbike Championship at the end of the season. The announcement came as Mladin refused to take part in that weekend's round at Heartland Park Topeka
Heartland Park Topeka
Heartland Park Topeka is a multi-purpose motorsports facility located south of Topeka, Kansas.When it opened in 1989, it was the first brand-new auto racing facility to be built in the United States for 20 years. Its facilities include a road-race course with 4 possible configurations , a ⅜ mile...
, Kansas due to concerns over rider safety at the circuit. Mladin is known for his campaign for improved rider safety through improvements into the circuits.
Personal
He lives near Oakdale, New South WalesOakdale, New South Wales
Oakdale is a semi-rural suburb or district in Wollondilly Shire in Sydney's southwest in New South Wales. At the 2006 census, Oakdale had a population of 1,006 people.-Notes and references:...
, with his wife and two children.
Mladin is a private individual; in 1998 he commented that "I don't enjoy all the press side of things at all, I enjoy my racing and I enjoy winning like nothing else.".
Mladin also lends his name to a company that imports motorcycle clothing and aftermarket
Aftermarket (automotive)
The automotive aftermarket is the secondary market of the automotive industry, concerned with the manufacturing, remanufacturing, distribution, retailing, and installation of all vehicle parts, chemicals, tools, equipment and accessories for light and heavy vehicles, after the sale of the...
accessories. As of 1 July 2009 this changed to Bike Gear Warehouse and sells online only.
Grand Prix
| Year | Class | Team | Machine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Points | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season The 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season was the 45th F.I.M. Road Racing World Championship season.-Season summary:Kevin Schwantz won the 1993 world championship in a season marred by the tragic end to his rival Wayne Rainey's career. Schwantz started the season strong with four wins by the... |
500cc | Cagiva Team Cagiva Cagiva is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer. It was founded in 1950 by Giovanni Castiglioni in Varese, originally producing small metal components. It went into the motorcycle industry in 1978. The name is a portmanteau derived from the founder and the founding location, i.e. CAstiglioni GIovanni... Agostini Giacomo Agostini -Non-riding career:Like John Surtees and Mike Hailwood before him, Agostini raced in Formula One cars. He competed in non-championship Formula One races in 1978. He competed in the European Formula 2 series in a Chevron B42-BMW and British Aurora Formula 1 with his own team and a Williams FW06... |
GP500 Cagiva GP500 The Cagiva GP500 was a Grand Prix 500cc two-stroke motorcycle manufactured by Cagiva. It was released in various iterations throughout the years it was raced. Racing greats including Eddie Lawson, Randy Mamola, John Kocinski, Doug Chandler, and Mat Mladin, all raced versions of the GP500 at one... |
AUS 1993 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 Australian motorcycle Grand Prix was the first round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 28 March 1993 at Eastern Creek Raceway.-500 cc race report:... 9 |
MAL 1993 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix was the second round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on the weekend of 4 April 1993 at the Shah Alam Circuit.-500 cc race report:... 10 |
JPN 1993 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 Japanese motorcycle Grand Prix was the third round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 18th April, 1993 at the Suzuka Circuit.-500 cc race report:Freddie Spencer out with an injury during qualifying... Ret |
ESP 1993 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 Spanish motorcycle Grand Prix was the fourth round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 2nd May, 1993 at the Jerez circuit.-500 cc race report:Kevin Schwantz’ 4th pole in 4 races.... Ret |
AUT 1993 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 Austrian motorcycle Grand Prix was the fifth round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on May 16, 1993 at the Salzburgring.-500 cc race report:Mick Doohan’s rear brake is now operated by a thumb-lever on the left side... 10 |
GER 1993 German motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 German motorcycle Grand Prix was the sixth round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 13th June, 1993 at the Hockenheim circuit.-500 cc race report:Kevin Schwantz on pole, Wayne Rainey again on the 2nd row.... 7 |
NED 1993 Dutch TT The 1993 Dutch TT was the seventh round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 26th June, 1993 at the TT Circuit Assen located in Assen, Netherlands.-500 cc race report:... Ret |
EUR 1993 European motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 European motorcycle Grand Prix was the eighth round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 4th July, 1993 at the Circuit de Catalunya.-500 cc race report:Yamaha allows Wayne Rainey to use a chassis from the ROC team.... |
SMR 1993 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 San Marino motorcycle Grand Prix was the ninth round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 18th July, 1993 at the Mugello Circuit.-500 cc race report:... 9 |
GBR 1993 British motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 British motorcycle Grand Prix was the tenth round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on August 1, 1993 at Donington Park.-500 cc race report:... |
CZE 1993 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 Czech Republic motorcycle Grand Prix was the eleventh round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on August 22, 1993 at the Masaryk Circuit located in Brno, Czech Republic.-500 cc race report:... |
ITA 1993 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 Italian motorcycle Grand Prix was the twelfth race of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on September 5, 1993 at the Misano circuit.-500 cc race report:... Ret |
USA 1993 United States motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 United States motorcycle Grand Prix was the penultimate round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 12th September, 1993 at Laguna Seca.-500 cc race report:... Ret |
FIM 1993 FIM motorcycle Grand Prix The 1993 FIM motorcycle Grand Prix was the last round of the 1993 Grand Prix motorcycle racing season. It took place on 26 September 1993 at the Jarama circuit.-500 cc race report:... 6 |
45 | 13th |
AMA Pro Racing
| Season | Class | Team | Bike | DAY |
FON |
RAT |
BAR |
INF |
RAM |
LAG |
M-O |
HRT |
VIR |
N-J |
Pts | Pos | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | ||||||
| 2009 | SBK | Yoshimura Yoshimura is a Japanese family name.... |
Suzuki GSX-R1000 Suzuki GSX-R1000 The GSX-R1000 is a sport bike from Suzuki's GSX-R series of motorcycles. It was introduced in 2001 to replace the GSX-R1100 and is powered by a liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder, four-stroke engine.-2001:... |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | DNS | DNS | 2 | 9 | 24 | 2 | 453 | 1st |
| Year | Class | Team | Bike | DAY |
BAR |
FON |
INF |
MIL |
RAM |
LAG |
M-O |
VIR |
RAT |
LAG |
Pts | Pos | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | ||||||
| 2008 | SBK | Yoshimura Yoshimura is a Japanese family name.... |
Suzuki GSX-R1000 Suzuki GSX-R1000 The GSX-R1000 is a sport bike from Suzuki's GSX-R series of motorcycles. It was introduced in 2001 to replace the GSX-R1100 and is powered by a liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder, four-stroke engine.-2001:... |
1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | DNF | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | DSQ | DSQ | 1 | 2 | 1 | 557 | 2nd |
| Year | Class | Team | Bike | DAY |
BAR |
FON |
INF |
RAM |
MIL |
LAG |
M-O |
VIR |
RAT |
LAG |
Pts | Pos | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | ||||||
| 2007 | SBK | Yoshimura Yoshimura is a Japanese family name.... |
Suzuki GSX-R1000 Suzuki GSX-R1000 The GSX-R1000 is a sport bike from Suzuki's GSX-R series of motorcycles. It was introduced in 2001 to replace the GSX-R1100 and is powered by a liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder, four-stroke engine.-2001:... |
11 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 651 | 2nd |
| Year | Class | Team | Bike | DAY |
BAR |
FON |
INF |
RAM |
MIL |
LAG |
M-O |
VIR |
RAT |
M-O |
Pts | Pos | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | ||||||
| 2006 | SBK | Yoshimura Yoshimura is a Japanese family name.... |
Suzuki GSX-R1000 Suzuki GSX-R1000 The GSX-R1000 is a sport bike from Suzuki's GSX-R series of motorcycles. It was introduced in 2001 to replace the GSX-R1100 and is powered by a liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder, four-stroke engine.-2001:... |
1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 641 | 2nd |
External links
- Mat Mladin profile at AMAProRacing.com
- MatMladinImports.com.au - Mat Mladin Imports Official site
- BikeGearWarehouse.com.au - Mat Mladin's New Business Venture
- Twitter - Mat Mladin's Twitter account
- Blog Spot - Mat Mladin's Blog Spot account