Mladin Comments

Heavy-Dee · 05-05-2005, 1:46 PM

I know that there are not a lot of fans of Mat Mladin here. But let's face it. The guy gets the job done, and w/ no drama. No excuses. I like that. I am that way. You get points or not based on how/what you did or did not do. Such is life, and I live it by those rules. I don't expect a raise, but I "tried hard and failed". That's just not how life works.

Mat has earned my respect, and I am a fan. The below article is interesting. Funny how he bashed EBoz. I like Eric, but I'm begining to waver.

Mat's Column

phobiaphobe · 05-05-2005, 2:04 PM

I don't think it really bothers him to be the "bad guy". You don't have to like the guy but you do have to respect his talent.

colryn · 05-05-2005, 2:21 PM

Stunnas always stick together.

ReaperAZ · 05-05-2005, 2:23 PM

The man's a machine. He knows what he's paid to do and does it well.

luvtolean · 05-05-2005, 2:29 PM

Edit: Actually, I don't think he really does understand what he's paid to do very well

I actually went and read the article, and now think I'm full of ****.

, but I certainly respect him. Incredible focus.

That will never change.

ccwilli3 · 05-05-2005, 2:35 PM

much much respect for the guy...

Heavy-Dee · 05-05-2005, 2:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colryn

Stunnas always stick together.

Don't worry buddy. I'm keeping your score right in my back pocket. And when the time is right....I strike.

HD

colryn · 05-05-2005, 3:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heavy-Dee

Don't worry buddy. I'm keeping your score right in my back pocket. And when the time is right....I strike.

HD

ND4SPD · 05-05-2005, 3:24 PM

I love the traction control bit

Crash · 05-05-2005, 3:27 PM

Not a fan of his, but this year I have respected him a lot more. He does what he says he'll do and he doesn't play any games. He just wins and makes everyone else speculate as to why he is so much better. It because he works harder than the others. Props to him.

phobiaphobe · 05-05-2005, 3:32 PM

Think he would make the cut in GP? Well not with Suzuki, but how would he do on a Honda or Yamaha?

Rios929 · 05-05-2005, 3:42 PM

Personally never been a huge fan of him, but I would love to seem him in GP. I think he would fit right in. I just don't understand why suzuki wouldn't give him a shot instead of Kenny Jr. who hasn't done anything since pre-Rossi 500cc

. At least with Hopkins their excuse is that he is "up and coming". I read an interview with Mladin a couple years ago, and he said that suzuki invited him to test their GP machine, but they only let him go a few laps..

BDA116 · 05-05-2005, 3:44 PM

He already tried - and failed - GP racing.
I respect his ablilities as a rider, but he's still a dick.
He's also smart enough to know where he is in his career and that making a move to be an "Eddie Irvine" in another series would ruin his credibility and send his career downhill.

phobiaphobe · 05-05-2005, 4:00 PM

Big fish in a small pond huh?

Rios929 · 05-05-2005, 4:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

He already tried - and failed - GP racing.

It's totally different now....four strokes and all. You have to admit he's just as good if not better than many gp riders. He's in the same league as gibernau, biaggi, bayliss, xaus, hayden, edwards, etc, imo.

phobiaphobe · 05-05-2005, 4:18 PM

GP needs a villain.

Biatchi doesn't count.

BDA116 · 05-05-2005, 4:26 PM

Oh I totally agree that the field is different. He would most definitely fit in with the bikes as well.
And yes, he's in the same league as Bayliss, Edwards and others, but read the last portion of my previous post. Bayliss and Edwards are done. They may be stuck in MotoGP for a couple more years, but that's that. The younger guys that he's on par with like Hayden, Melandri, etc. have plenty of years left.
Where is he gonna go in MotoGP? Suzuki or Kawasaki and destroy what is left of his career? Yamaha, and be a second Eddie Irvine for them? He has trash talked Honda too much for them to give him a top level ride - on top of the fact that Honda are already overbooked.
I would find it more likely for him to go over to World Superbike for a year or to for a shot there. But then again, why? He makes more money here, is comfortable with the bike and team he has here, has built himself quite the legacy here, not to mention the huge tire issue he'd have over there (or MotoGP).
I'm not saying he wouldn't be somewhat competitive in MotoGP, he'd be right there fighting for 12th-15th with Edwards and Bayliss, just that there is absolutely no reason for him to do so.
Same goes for World Supers. I think he'd have a horrible time with the tires for a while. Once he got that sorted, or if the rules were to change for him to use the Dunlops, I believe he would give Corser more than he could handle. But again, why?
Mladin will end up being to the AMA what Carl Fogarty was to WSBK.

CBR929RE · 05-05-2005, 9:46 PM

I think BDA nailed with with both of his posts.

I especially like this line though and couldn't agree more.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

I respect his ablilities as a rider, but he's still a dick.

I think if I was in charge I'd pick him as my rider but as a fan I'd pick Zemke or Duhamel just because I like them as people a lot more. These guys are paid to win and thats what he does. Granted I think a lot of it does have to do with him having the best team around but he's still unbelievable good and the number about 100% throttle he said show that. If he didn't have such a great team I think it would be more of a fight for the championship.

Latebraking · 05-05-2005, 10:44 PM

Lots of respect for him and his results, which should speak volumes to anyone with a brain. His comments about the Rossi / Gibernau incident are spot on, in my opinion, as were his thoughts about the Hacking / DiSalvo get together at Barber. A couple of the wrench spinners in the Yamaha camp feel the same way.

Purpdust · 05-07-2005, 6:30 AM

That article was great - it show him in a different light than usual.

I believe he is 41 that may be alittle late for any of the teams in Motogp to take him on.

As far as beating Corser - I think Corser has always been under rated and is now showing what he can do.

Heavy-Dee · 05-07-2005, 7:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purpdust

That article was great - it show him in a different light than usual.

I believe he is 41 that may be alittle late for any of the teams in Motogp to take him on.

As far as beating Corser - I think Corser has always been under rated and is now showing what he can do.

I don't think he's that old. More like 36 I think.

Latebraking · 05-07-2005, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

He already tried - and failed - GP racing.
I respect his ablilities as a rider, but he's still a dick.
He's also smart enough to know where he is in his career and that making a move to be an "Eddie Irvine" in another series would ruin his credibility and send his career downhill.

Yeah, he didn't do well in GP, but consider the fact that Cagiva, the factory supplying the bikes, sucked ass. Mamola, Kocinski, and I believe Lawson all had mediocre results at best with that bike. Consider that before you say he sucked as a GP contender.

BDA116 · 05-07-2005, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Latebraking

Yeah, he didn't do well in GP, but consider the fact that Cagiva, the factory supplying the bikes, sucked ass. Mamola, Kocinski, and I believe Lawson all had mediocre results at best with that bike. Consider that before you say he sucked as a GP contender.

No, the Cagiva wasn't the best bike. Yes, he is better than he was then. Yes, MotoGP is different than it was then.
However, Mladin DID fail at his attemp in GP. All the Mladin lovers can cry about it all they want, but since you googled his career a bit, you should be able to find out whom else rode the Cagiva in 1993.
Hint: Doug Chandler scored nearly double Mladin's points as his teammate