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Davegess
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 12:03 pm: | 
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Mat probably couldn't get a competitve MotoGP ride at this point. The top teams want young guns and he is considered old. It seems to take 2-3 years to really learn the tracks and bike and be ready for the podium. That would make Mat really old.
I can see no reason why he would go over to ride a bike withno chance to win. Suzuki can't offer him one. Yamaha is set, Honda has more guys than they know what to do with, Kawasaki has a long way to go, WMC is a complete rookie and if they are competive anytime soon I will be surprised, Roberts is hopeless, the only rides with a prayer are some of the customer Hondas and why would Mat go from winning to running for 5th? Sure Rossi switched bikes but he got his own crew chief, a comittment to do what was needed to win AND 28 MILLION BUCKS A YEAR
Is Mat tough before races? Hey everyone gets a "race face" on in different ways they do what they need to do to win. Outside of his " race face" time both before and right after the race and qualifing he is supposed to me pretty cool. |
Ebear
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 01:18 pm: |
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"Beg to differ".......Ferris....Don't know how many races you attend but I've been at Fontana..Barber...Sonoma and Road America and last year Fontana,Barber,Seca and Colorado.I spend a lot of time in the pits and as some of you know I take pics on the track of Racers and get them to sign them in the pits.I've spent a share of my time around Mats pit and I watch how he reacts to fans.(I hang around cause I like Spies.)Ask Scott...he says I have a disease....YOU ONLY see him on TV and believe me he understands TV and is very careful around that media....but if you watched him with Greg White a couple of weeks ago.....you'll read between them lines!!! |
Rex
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 01:19 pm: |
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well, if matt goes overseas, that might open up ama for zemke and miguel to win everyrace, huh? REX
like miguel...I would like to see him continue to race usa...would be good to see him mix it up with the other world racers, but probably will not happen.
hope nicky can keep his ride. I guess it is good to ride in the top 5-7 of the world each week, but we need to podiums.... |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 02:51 pm: |
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I like Matt. He is without a doubt THE consumate professional in AMA Superbike. I do wonder if he actually has fun racing though. I like that about Miguel. He almost always is having fun.
I have little doubt that if given the same resources, Matt Mladin would give Rossi a fierce run for his money. Doubt he'll get that chance though. |
BadS1
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 02:58 pm: |
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I have huge doubt.Matt would get stomped.I still think Nicky is a better rider and has had time to adjust to the tracks and the bike which is also the best bike and is not winning yet. |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 03:36 pm: |
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EBear, you attend more races than i do. you win that battle.
but...
remember THIS day?:
that's Denise, Ben Bostrom and YOU hanging out at the Starbucks in Fontana last year.
and that's ME getting Mat's autograph after he dominated the AMA Superbike races that weekend. you see, i DO get out once in a while.
here's my caption when i originally posted the second pic: "Mat signs an autograph for me. he couldn't have been any more pleasant, freely at ease with the crowd of admirers and plainly enjoying himself."
this doesn't prove anything, obviously, but i have met the man (in a sense), and i have spoken (briefly) with him. me and D hung around LONG after he signed autographs for us, and all we saw and heard was positive from the guy.
re: the interview on TWT with Greg White a couple of weeks ago, Mat said or did NOTHING that was even close to being rude. he is sure of himself, for sure, but so are you and i, right?
what did i miss during that interview that demonstrates that he's a "bad guy"? |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 03:40 pm: |
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Matt would get stomped.
no offense, but that seems improbable. what is it about his obvious skill set that would lead you to think that? |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 03:46 pm: |
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I do wonder if he actually has fun racing though.
"fun", surely, is different things to different people. i bet he gets immense satisfaction from his absolute dominance of AMA Superbike.
he may not be the "goof" that Miguel is (no offense meant), or the "merry prankster" that Jake is (no offense meant), but i bet on the inside, where it matters to him the most, he's having the time of his life.
winning IS fun. |
BadS1
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 03:49 pm: |
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Jerry I think Matt is a very very talented rider don't get me wrong but he has no experience with GP bikes or any real track time if any at all on the GP circuit.As far as I'm concerned Nicky would sting him and sting him good.Now give him a couple years to grow and learn like the rest maybe you'd see a podium just as we have with Nicky but Rossi is just like they call him the doctor.But I would like to see him beat.BTW if he went over now and was on a Suzuki that would not be a good thing considering that the bike just hasn't been stellar at all. |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 04:00 pm: |
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i agree that it'd take some time for him to be truly "podium" competitive in MotoGP, but i think it'd be quicker than you think, providing he was given a top-flight package from the very beginning, which he made clear on TWT hasn't been offered but is necessary for him to seriously consider the jump.
agree that Rossi is incredible. i haven't been around long enough to call him the greatest of all time, but he's certainly in the same building.
funny how sometimes when someone becomes WILDLY successful at something, their popularity can actually diminish.
i think this phenomenon applies to Mladin (not helped by his less than Miguel-like demeanor at times), and Rossi seems to have his share of detractors of late, even tho he's been nothing short of fantastic for the sport, and nothing short of legendary in terms of his performance.
personally, seeing ALL these guys on the track at Laguna is going to be unforgettable. |
Davegess
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 05:57 pm: |
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I have hope tha Melandri can step up an challange Rossi soon. It seems that no one else can. Two weeks in row he breaks the lap record on the last freaking lap! Perhaps his secret is that he has figured oout exactly how much his tires can give and never overworks them? |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 06:46 pm: |
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yeah, watching that race and hearing the fastest laps were at the end was simply amazing to me. i bet Melandri has a GREAT shot at Rossi. i think Rossi is FINALLY going to prove he's only human, that he's not really a doctor, and i think him and Sete are gonna have "words" out on the track. i see Sete 3rd, Rossi 4th.
in the meantime, Nicky will leave 'm for dust and steam right to the top of the box. can't wait to see THAT.  |
Wyckedflesh
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 07:15 pm: |
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Overall I don't see Mat going to MotoGP, BUT, havign said that, I again think that Suzuki MIGHT concider the idea of offering Mat a MotoGP ride for Laguna simply because he is there, MotoGP is there and they will have bikes. A MotoGP bike is a different animal then a Superbike, different power delivery, WAY more brakes, suspensions, tires, and such. I could see 'Zuki not offering Mat a ride simply based on what it would take to get him used to a MotoGP calibur machine compared to his own bike. But what happens lets just say in this little bench race of ours, that Mat DOES ride a GP bike at Laguna, and he places in the top 10? What does that say for Mat?
I won't discount Rossi, the only track he didn't dominate was the brand spanking never been run before track in the MidEast...Running Laguna is going to be very much the same for all of the riders except Colin Edwards, and Nicky Haden... |
M1combat
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 07:18 pm: |
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And Mat if they let him have a go . How much time would his experience there be worth??? Enough to make up for the lack of experience on the bike? I'll bet there's people trying to work it out... |
Blake
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 07:26 pm: |
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You cannot just throw a racer at a bike and expect him to even qualify. Do you have any idea of the amount of work, tuning, testing, riding/adjustment the MotoGP teams/racers put into getting their bikes up to speed???
Even if Suzuki could do the impossible and put a well-sorted compatible GP machine under Matt, the idea that Suzuki would even think about putting Mladin on a GP bike at Laguna is not in the cards. WAY too much to lose if he were to get hurt, ZERO to gain on an unfamiliar sub-par GP bike that has no hope of competing unless it rains. It is a lose - lose scenario. Ain't gonna happen. |
M1combat
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 07:45 pm: |
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But it would be FUN damnit... |
Wyckedflesh
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 07:56 pm: |
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You cannot just throw a racer at a bike and expect him to even qualify. Do you have any idea of the amount of work, tuning, testing, riding/adjustment the MotoGP teams/racers put into getting their bikes up to speed???
I could see 'Zuki not offering Mat a ride simply based on what it would take to get him used to a MotoGP calibur machine compared to his own bike.
Didn't I kinda say that Blake  |
BadS1
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 10:35 pm: |
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Nicky leave them in the dust Jerry???Well I hope so but I doubt it really.I know Nicky has had plenty of experience with Laguna over the years but he hasn't been there in a couple as well.I think Rossi will be in fine form wherever he goe's.Take for instance Neil Hodgson and how well he really is doing hear on a new team,bike,and a country and tracks he's never ridden before.I hope Nicky can pull one off for us but I really think if anything it might even out the playing field some. |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 11:04 pm: |
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i admit i'm being blatantly optimistic. |
BadS1
| | Posted on Thursday, June 30, 2005 - 11:13 pm: |
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Hey nothing wrong with that.We have Hayden,Hopkins,Edwards and Roberts to cheer on.Hope one of them makes us proud. |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2005 - 12:32 am: |
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I'm rooting for the Texas Tornado, yeeehaaaw. He's better than Nicky. |
Jima4media
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2005 - 02:06 am: |
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The Man named Mat Mladin - That's with 1 "T" in Mat - Short for Mathew.
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/f004.htm
Good stories. |
Davegess
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2005 - 12:11 pm: |
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Mat's lap times on the Superbike will be slow compared to the GP Susuki. Even bad GP bikes (to misquote Eddie Lawson) are insanely fast. |
Ebear
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2005 - 03:49 pm: |
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Im kinda with you Blake.....I think Colin can manage his tires better and will Podium this weekend...I WISH Nicky would do this but he's always choosing soft tires to get out front early then falls back when they fail...On the AMA-to GP idea...Jake needs to take an AMA championship soundly for 2 years in a row to even think about doing well in GP...Miguel has a few more years but he's been faultering badly lately....will probably back off soon and retire...Spies has a bright future and everyone seems to be ignoring Aaron Yates....how come?.....He's VERY good and has been following Mat alot lately,don't you Mladin lovers recognize his talent???Ain't he alot like Mat??Did you notice his break down on Fontana where he slowly rolled around the Apex and then stopped ON THE TRACK(ala Yates)trying to force them to Red Flag the race??They didn't fall for this and ignored his Yates like behavior....OH Yeah,thats right,most of you never got to the race!!...(wink-wink-nudge-nudge-know what I mean??????)...Jason DiSalvo is doing well,even though he's a dirty rider and often pisses off fellow racers...If he gets the right backing and matures a little he could do well I think.Now turning around again to present day GP antics...I think Marco is coming alive and pushing Sete out of the way....and Max has been relegated to the "has been Roman Emperors" status...but don't rule out Sete....he,s a seasoned pro and can bust out any time and outride anybody but Valentino....so long as Melandri isn't fuming....And Tamada...don't get me started!!!....my 2.9 cents ...and i got back some change!! |
Jima4media
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2005 - 05:12 pm: |
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Here are my picks for next weekend...
1. Rossi
2. Hayden
3. Edwards
Nicky and Colin have the track experience at Laguna, but Rossi will figure it out soon enough. It will be a matter of who can save their tires for the end. Laguna is really a workout on the left side of the tires, especially turn 2 and 11.
The other guys with Laguna experience are Capirossi and Checa on the Ducati Desmo V-4s. You can't count them out of this race either.
Jim |
Davegess
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2005 - 05:47 pm: |
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I buy Rossi at number 1, he seems to have the tire thing all figured out.
I am high Melandri and think he may continue his streak of podiums. He is really the only guy who can beat Rossi a this point.
Nicky is either running out of concentration or tires at the end and I don't think Laguna will help, what he needs is a few weeks off to rest and focus. So my picks are;
Rossi
Edwards
Melandri
Hayden
and
Biaggi 13th complaining the whole time |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2005 - 05:51 pm: |
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OH Yeah,thats right,most of you never got to the race!!...(wink-wink-nudge-nudge-know what I mean??????)...
yeah, i know what you mean. see you at Laguna. |
Ebear
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2005 - 06:11 pm: |
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I truly can't wait Bro!!!.....We usually head over to Carmel Valley once a day and chew up some tires,Since were getting there Wednesday morning we will be setting up,riding the grade and Carmel valley,then Thursday Tbear and I will ride up to Santa Cruz and visit my sister(she grows mushrooms,but thats an entirely different story)maybe do Bonny Doon and return through Pescadero and Swanton Road.Friday at 9:00 all are invited to take a ride to Mt.Hamilton then cross over to Boulder Creek,Bonny Doon then back to the track for Prep for dinner.Saturday run bikes to the "Row",return for races and concert then back for fun and street walkin'.Then comes Race Day!!!!
 |
Sandblast
| | Posted on Friday, July 01, 2005 - 11:22 pm: |
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I have been quietly reading this, and here is my take:
Mladin, due in huge part to his work ethic, and given a bit of time and similar equipment, could find a way to hang with Rossi. But it will never happen, too late in the game.
Hayden will come into his own soon enough, and Honda is not going to let the last couple years go to waste by yanking his hardware. This is business, and he is an investment worth keeping.
The Tornado is going to rip some serious ••• next weekend, and I am going to go home with no voice left, no money left, and in serious debt to my Mom who is watching my kids for four days so that I can get drunk with my SCAB and Badweb friends and look at motorcycles.
You can take the above to the bank. |
Jerry_haughton
| | Posted on Saturday, July 02, 2005 - 08:37 am: |
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...so that I can get drunk with my SCAB and Badweb friends and look at motorcycles.
i wonder if Monterey has a blue light district...
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Jima4media
| | Posted on Saturday, July 02, 2005 - 09:58 pm: |
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That would be the Blue Fin bar above Cannery Row, where you will see the biggest collection of cool motorcycles in the world.
Or 6PM in front of Sly McFly's next Saturday night. |
Sandblast
| | Posted on Sunday, July 03, 2005 - 01:00 pm: |
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I pick up my new truck tuesday! Laguna Seca here we come!!! |
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