Who watches profesional bike racing??

[Camronmon]

I am a huge fan of motorcycle racing.   Thank God for the invention of the DVR, cuz this year I'm not missing one race.   FIM, MotoGP, and the AMA series too.   I would like to ask one question though.   Is there anyone else out there who is absolutely sick and tired of Matt Mladin like I am???   I can't stand to watch AMA Superbike anymore!!!   "Gee I wonder whos gonna win??"   Why isn't he racing MotoGP???    He could make probably 20 times more money and actually get to apply himself!!!

Just throwin it out there.   Let me know what you think.

Camronmon

[skiandclimb]

I love to watch racing, too. I got sick of the Mladin show a long time ago, but- the dude is badass at what he does...ll aso I gotta give him props there.  As for him and MotoGP- I think his age has alot to do with it. He's in his mid-thirties now, I think. He does well with the AMA stuff, because he has had years to polish his trade, and intimately knows that Zuki.  MotoGP is a whole different animal....completely different bike, different tracks and to be honest- a whole different level of riding, IMHO. GP is always changing. They change chassis, motors, rules (lol) and suspension like people change their minds! I think Mat wouldn't do so well  against the younger guys, and constantly changing machinery.

Just my .02 cents,
Ski

[Camronmon]

I agree with you, but thats why I would love to see him go international.   He IS an unbelievably talented rider, and I think because of his discipline he could be competitive, and yea some of those guys are pretty young in GP but in FIM Haga is 34 and tearing it up.   Mladin has several more years to be competitive (obviously) but I'd rather see him against someone in a close race.

I guess it comes down to him liking to be the BIG fish in a much smaller pond.

Camronmon

[Woofentino Pugrossi]

I agree with you, but thats why I would love to see him go international.   He IS an unbelievably talented rider, and I think because of his discipline he could be competitive, and yea some of those guys are pretty young in GP but in FIM Haga is 34 and tearing it up.   Mladin has several more years to be competitive (obviously) but I'd rather see him against someone in a close race.

I guess it comes down to him liking to be the BIG fish in a much smaller pond.

Camronmon

Or its the fact he has a little kid and really wants to see him more than 4 months a year.

[sahli833]

it does get boring watching the mladin show it would of been cool if he would of went an did the same thing as spies.  he would be a good choice for world superbike but he is older and has a family to worry about so he probally doesnt want to shake things up too much

[tzracer]

Mainly it is is age. Also he is making a good living in the US. He id say if it were not for Spies e probably would already be retired. Wonder if he is going to be around next year.

He did race 500GP (MotoGP) but was a bit young and didn't do very well. The Cagiva was not the most competitive bike either.

[Super Dave]

Personally, I like Mladin's presence.  He's like a piece of steel being swung around a dark room.  He keeps other riders striving to go faster. 

For many years, racers would strive to go faster and faster and faster.  It's not easy, and, sometimes, a target is great.  Schwantz and Rainey were great against each other.  Throw Merkel in there too.  Polen and Shobert.  How about Chandler, James, Quarterley, Edwards, Kipp, and all of those riders going at it?

So, someone needs to go out and run down Mladin.  Seemed like that Nicky kid did pretty well.  Spies too.

As for Mladin going international again, if someone offers him a job and a bike, I'm sure he would consider.  But I'm sure that American Suzuki and Yoshimura really value his services and employment.  Might be a big cost to get him.

[RoyHefner]

"I'm too old to go Moto Grand Prix racing," Mladin continues. "I'm 34 next month. The fact is I'd love to go over there and give it a go, but it's not going to happen. I've accepted that and in no way do I feel bitter about it. That series is going to be good this year with some of the new guys. They need to keep all the old guys over here in AMA Superbike (laughs)."

-Mat Mladin from an interview in 2006

[GIGOLO]

Mladin is a family man, you hear it in every interview and press conference.  When AMA and MotoGP were at Laguna together, Mladin was in awe of Rossi's ability,  I dont think that you can honestly have a competition with some one you really admire. 

Supercross is the best series to watch right now as far as AMA stuff,

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

I think alot of people miss the fact that we've been living thru a time in motorcycle road racing where over an extended period of time 2 racers (Mladin and Rossi) have absolutely reset the bar as to the level of where racers have to be able to compete at every event - and have done it for years on end. I really respect the fact that both of them are long time veterans of the sport who continue to win even when facing much younger competition, I compare their successes to the Michael Jordan era in Basketball, people knew he was good and even with him I believe alot of people got somewhat complacent as to what he was really achieving while it was happening.

[weggieman]

I kind of like the "old guy" out there kicking ass. I don't care if he wins every race. All the others have to do is step up their program.......... Matt didn't get where he is by complaining about faster guys, he went out and caught them. Props to him and his success.

Let's see what happens now that he has an '09 and not a left over '08 gixxer.

[Camronmon]

Yea I can't argue with any of the points about Mladin's talent and work ethic.   I just want to see some close races....sigh.....   Well at least Moto GP and FIA have been decently interesting.   And speaking of good competition, has anyone else been following Formula 1??? Talk about the underdog story of the century.   Lets see if Brawn can pull off another pole and 1st this weekend.

Camronmon