Mladin: Already thinking about 2007

ccwilli3 · 08-07-2006, 12:10 PM

Wow. I have to bow to a man that is willing to admit when he's been beaten, but dang, he is already talking about getting ready for next year and trying to have an answer for spies. To be a multi-time champion and he is already mentally out of the game, I'm not sure what I think about that... He is consistently finishing well and really spies is the only guy that can lay the smackdown on him. But who knows what could happen at VIR, spies could DNF or have a mechanical, or have a dunlop spin on the rim, anything can still happen. They still have VIR, Road Atlanta and Mid O again.

Anyone? Anyone? As hard of a worker and contender as mladin is, I was really just in awe yesterday at the fact that he is already 'half-assedly' (yes, it's a word, just like truthiness) admitting defeat...

NinerPilot · 08-07-2006, 12:15 PM

Im just glad that someone, even another Suzuki rider has put him in his place...

RRWANTR · 08-07-2006, 12:15 PM

Mind games.

BDA116 · 08-07-2006, 12:16 PM

Yes, and Corser could still win the WSBK title, right? He is only 114 points down and in fourth.

Rossi is making the same statements. He know he has been out-done so far this season, so there is nothing to talk about.
However, I think in both cases it has more to do with not wanting to talk about getting beat than anything else. They both will still do everything they can to win the races and try to get back in the title hunt. It's just that there isn't any smack to talk any longer. Just play the mind games of telling everyone you're done.
Which is very nice in Mladin's case, as talking smack is all he ever did. I'm loving watching him get beaten soundly at each event. And Miguel on an inferior bike is getting to the point where he can hang. If AmHon ever gets the thing fully worked out, Miggy will be smacking Mladin back where he belongs just as he used to do.

*BIGSAPOTEER* · 08-07-2006, 1:02 PM

do you think that spies is beating-up on mat, because is is younger and in better physically shape? is spies better because he is able to maintain a consistant pace throughout the entire race, or he just a better rider? remember they have pretty much the same bike.

QuikMike · 08-07-2006, 1:25 PM

I've never been a big Mladin fan, but I do respect the guy for admitting when he is getting whupped fair and square, straight up and down....I was amazed that Elbowz had a 2+ sec lead on the field before the end of the first lap!!!

the guy can flat out ride a superbike....I am really curious as the what the future holds for him...I know he re-upped with YoshSuzuki for 2 more years, but if the price is right, he could be gone....in any case, for Mladin to be a 6-time champ, he sure isn't showing that championship fighting spirit by tossing in the towel on the '06 season already....plenty of racing left and he's only 45 point out....I am just glad to see someone whup his ass fair and square for a change...

*BIGSAPOTEER* · 08-07-2006, 6:28 PM

the sad part about AMA superbike is that for the past 5-6 years it has been suzuki vs honda (recently ducati & kawi). with superior bikes mat has dominated the championship, but with a hungry and talented rider (spies) he has given-up the torch. mat should consider WSBK next year?

luvtolean · 08-07-2006, 6:29 PM

Just pulling the tear off. Same with Rossi.

for candor though.

These guys live to win. Losing is like not breathing.

I think they just want to look forward to getting back, and realistically, they know there's more work to do than they can cover during the season...

Scout · 08-08-2006, 4:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGSAPOTEER

do you think that spies is beating-up on mat, because is is younger and in better physically shape? is spies better because he is able to maintain a consistant pace throughout the entire race, or he just a better rider? remember they have pretty much the same bike.

I think Spies "MAY" have more natural talent, but Mladin has him on experience hands down. I knew that kid was coming up the first time I saw him race...

Mladin probably has no misconceptions about it being the rider or the bike now. He's had the superior bike, but put too much self emphasis on rider IMHO. That may be just how it seems to me, I don't know.

Jungleboy · 08-11-2006, 7:02 AM

I think Spies is doing a great job and is just on fire at the moment! and I definately think he has a big future ahead of him. Has he taken the AMA to a new level or has Mladin dropped of a little or is it a bit of both (I dont get to see any of the AMA race unfortunately). Either way its great to see a new face on the podium.

Having said that I just thought Id be patriotic and come to Matts defence, as I know he isnt the most popular guy in the US. At the moment Matt is currently 2nd in the championship and the winningest rider in AMA history. If any other rider in the field was a reasonably close 2nd in the championship we'd all be saying how well they were doing but when its MM its a different story...

weather this is a chainging of the guard and the start of the downside of Matts career we will have to wait and see.. but after winning the championship so many times it must be really hard to keep the fire going.. Like they say in boxing "its easier to win the title than to keep the title" when something that you have been striving for your whole life is within reach, you are so hungry you can dig from places you didnt know you had but to defend a title time and time again I imagine would really be difficult to attain that same level of hunger....

BDA116 · 08-11-2006, 9:16 AM

Mladin is the winningest rider in the superbike class in AMA history only because of the fact that the AMA went to doubleheader races when Mladin was his stongest. Had the AMA been doing doubleheaders in the mid 90s, Miguel's superbike win record would still be intact and he would have at least 4 superbike titles under his belt.
All that said, Miguel still IS the winningest rider in AMA history. His wins in multiple classes will never be eclipsed by Mladin.
Miguel is still every bit as good a rider and hungry a racer as Mladin, Honda just needs to get the final bumps sorted on the 1000RR to make it on par. As it is, with a bike that still isn't up to snuff with the 'zook, Miguel is now keeping right with him.

SuperDave · 08-11-2006, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIGSAPOTEER

do you think that spies is beating-up on mat, because is is younger and in better physically shape? is spies better because he is able to maintain a consistant pace throughout the entire race, or he just a better rider? remember they have pretty much the same bike.

Well, your last part is what I took from the post race interview. Sounded to me like Mladin and his team were going to try and find an answer to Spie's power/bike.

I don't think Mladin was saying he's searching on how to ride (technique wise) better than Spies, he was talking matching up to Spies bike performance.

I thought it was pretty classy to almost concede this year to Spies, and he's the first one to ride up on the cool down lap to congratulate him.

ccwilli3 · 08-11-2006, 7:51 PM

yeah, mladin has been classy about his losses. A truely confident person does that... See Rossi. Total confidence. Want to see lack of confidence? See and hear hopper on the DTK movie. Both before and after the race...