Mat Mladin

moffman · 13 Feb 2003, 16:27 (Ref:505538)

Why haven't Suzuki offered him a ride in the main show? IMO he is head & shoulders above their current riders

wreckless · 14 Feb 2003, 05:09 (Ref:506114)

because he is an aussie, who cant rake in the sponsorship $$$ like a 2nd grade spanish rider can.

racer69 · 14 Feb 2003, 07:27 (Ref:506158)

It was funny how last year everyone jumped up and down about Hayden winning the AMA on the Honda (deservadly so) and thrown into MotoGP, yet Mladin had won the previous 3 on the 750 and no-one in the powers that be seemed to notice.

f1manoz · 14 Feb 2003, 07:38 (Ref:506162)

I have to concur with wreckless on this one. Back in the late 80s/early 90s, manufacturers were clamouring to have an Aussie on one of their bikes, mostly because our domestic series were at their height of competitiveness.

Nowadays there are plenty of talented Aussies still around, but not many appear to be getting a deserved break. Bayliss got one with Ducati while Pitt is getting one with a Ducati, and both have great track records. Mladin has one but he is ignored by all. Sad really...

Airhead · 14 Feb 2003, 10:10 (Ref:506256)

The answer is yes and no.

Mat had an experience in the early '90's of being "the next big thing" and riding a Cagiva 500cc two stroke.

He was out of his depth, not suprisingly. Did he have his chance and squander it? I really don't know, did he peak too soon, get that break that limited his career - this I believe to be true.

R13EY · 14 Feb 2003, 11:08 (Ref:506308)

Did he rub somebody up the wrong way, shame he is very fast

proberly better off racing in the British superbikes rather than the AMA

gsr · 14 Feb 2003, 11:09 (Ref:506309)

Mladin was advised not to take the Cagiva ride ,it was to early in his career.I believe if he held off for a couple of years and gained more experience we might be looking at a world champion.His attitude in the early years didn't do him any favours.

KC · 14 Feb 2003, 13:56 (Ref:506502)

I think Suzuki has missed the boat some with Mladin. I don't think he would have made that much difference in the MotoGP the way the Suzuki has performed since Roberts won the title and Rossi entered the show. In the AMASB the bikes are a lot closer and he was able to take the fight to Honda. In MotoGP no one has consistently done this. Part of it may be that Mladin walks around with the red arse all the time. He does not deal well with the press. He does not get along with anyone, not even his teammate. He may have burned a few bridges with the management at Suzuki.

**gomick** · 21 Feb 2003, 22:38 (Ref:513740)

better of in the british superbikes? why

- hayden and hopkins came from ama...... what moto gp rider has come from british superbikes rider lately (i cant think at the moment

)

mladin always said he wouldnt race in europe unless conditions were right... ie: taking his yoshimura crew with him

if i had to compare mladin to a current moto gp rider, i would say that mladin would be the same as colin edwards

racer69 · 22 Feb 2003, 06:21 (Ref:513946)

On his Cagiva ride, the arrival of John Kocinski mid-year didn't help, taking half his crew with him, and they didn't really have the budget for 3 bikes.

Winther · 22 Feb 2003, 09:54 (Ref:514000)

Kocinski is a freak allright

**gomick** · 23 Feb 2003, 01:23 (Ref:514505)

kocinski was also a world champion and 500cc gp winner when he got the mid season cagiva ride - mladin was a 20 year old who had had 1 year on a superbike in australia.....

William Dale Jr · 23 Feb 2003, 02:05 (Ref:514529)

Quote:

Originally posted by gomick
what moto gp rider has come from british superbikes rider lately

The only ones I can think of are Bayliss - who's in MotoGP because of his performances in the World Superbike Championship, not because he was a star in Britain - and Chris Walker.

Mladin not going to 500s or MotoGP is something I've always wondered about. Suzuki did give him a run on a 500 at Phillip Island during end of year testing in 98?, but from memory that was more of a 'thank-you' for winning the AMA series rather than with a view to giving him a full-time ride. I've always thought that there must be something behind the Mladin-not-getting-a-500-ride story that we're not being told, but then again, I'm the cynical type...

racer69 · 23 Feb 2003, 06:25 (Ref:514572)

Quote:

Originally posted by gomick
kocinski was also a world champion and 500cc gp winner when he got the mid season cagiva ride - mladin was a 20 year old who had had 1 year on a superbike in australia.....

What is Kocinski up to these days. I haven't heard from him since he parted ways with Ducati just prior to the 2001 AMA Superbike Championship.

**gomick** · 23 Feb 2003, 06:41 (Ref:514575)

thought last year he helped develope the yamaha M1 moto gp bike

salparadise · 26 Feb 2003, 14:30 (Ref:518357)

Kocinski is becoming the real estate king of Hollywood.
I think he sold Eddie Murphy a house etc.
The thought of him being a teammanager is just funny, "HRC? this is John. Can you send me the forks of Hailwoods '66 bike?"

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