Mladin Returns to Form, Takes Superbike Win at Infineon Raceway
Press release Infineon Raceway
Photo: Stephen Scharf
SONOMA, Calif. (May 17, 2009) – Mat Mladin returned to form Sunday at Infineon Raceway, running away with his 80th career victory on Day 2 of the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Supercuts.
The triumph came some 24 hours after his seven-race win streak was halted by a poor-handling bike and the spirited charge of Yamaha’s Josh Hayes, who captured his first win at this level.
To emphasize that his departure from the Winner's Circle was an aberration, the 37-year-old Australian dropped down and performed pushups before accepting his first-place trophy and spraying a cheering crowd with champagne.
"When I won my first championship over a decade ago I heard that I would only win one and that would be the end of him," Mladin said. "I've heard it all before. I won my first national championship 28 years ago as a kid. I've been doing this a while and won't go away that quick."
Mladin and his Suzuki topped second-place Ben Bostrom (Petaluma native) on a Yamaha despite Bostrom leading the 30-minute Sunday warm-up and posting the fastest time in a recent test at the 2.28 mile, 12-turn track.
On a day when track temperatures pushed past 120 degrees and heat impacted every competitor, Mladin's margin of victory was an impressive 1.833 seconds.
"I don't want too many days at the office like that," he said.
Third place went to Mladin teammate Tommy Hayden, followed by Hayes and Larry Pegram in fifth on a Ducati.
Mladin, the six-time series champion, entered the weekend pursuing a record eighth straight victory. Instead he had to settle for eight wins in his last nine outings.
His performance was the kind that fans and competitors have come to expect. Mladin beat back several challengers entering the first turn, methodically built his lead and then defended it with skill and tenacity.”
Said Bostrom: "(Mat) rode a perfect race and it was stellar to watch."
Mladin was up by .734 seconds after one lap, by .826 after 2 and 1.031 after 3, had pushed it to 1.312 after the fourth circuit with a lap of 1:36.730 and 1.347 after 5. By Lap 10 the cushion up was 2.269.
Lapped traffic eventually cut into the margin, with Bostrom narrowing it to under a second in the race's late stages but there was little suspense.
For Bostrom, it was another failed attempt to win at his home track. He's still awaiting his first win at the challenging, 12-turn road course.
"It's a tough track, one of the toughest we go to," Bostrom said. "I love it so much and I've always wanted to win a Superbike race here but I've never done it.”
Mladin holds a 79-point lead in the standings. Hayden is second, 29 points ahead of Hayes and 39 in front of Bostrom.
Earlier, Colombia's Martin Cardenas completed a sweep of both Daytona Sportbike races by holding off a late challenge from Jason DiSalvo. The win was the fourth straight for the Suzuki rider, fifth of the season and upped his lead in the point standings.
In the Supersport class, Ricky Parker drove to victory on a Kawasaki. Santa Rosa’s Robert Tinagero finished eighth.
Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown
SONOMA, Calif. (May 17, 2009 ) – Results of Sunday's AMA Daytona SportBike and American Superbike races at Infineon Raceway, showing finishing position, number (in parentheses), name, team, motorcycle and laps completed around the 2.28-mile road course.
AMERICAN SUPERBIKE
1. (7) Mat Mladin; Rockstar · Makita · Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 22.
2. (2) Ben Bostrom; Yamaha Motor Corp. USA; Yamaha YZF-R1; 22.
3. (22) Tommy Hayden; Rockstar · Makita · Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 22.
4. (4) Josh Hayes; Yamaha Motor Corp. USA; Yamaha YZF-R1; 22.
5. (72) Larry Pegram; Foremost Insurance · Pegram Racing Ducati; Ducati 1098R; 22.
6. (54) Geoff May; National Guard Jordan Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 22.
7. (44) Taylor Knapp; Taylor Knapp Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 22.
8. (25) David Anthony; Aussie Dave Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 22.
9. (100) Neil Hodgson; Corona Extra Honda; Honda CBR1000RR; 22.
10. (27) Ryan Elleby; Four Feathers Racing; Yamaha YZF-R1; 22.
11. (61) Scott Jensen; Moto Garage Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 22.
12. (96) Aaron Gobert; Team Trifoglio Racing; Honda CBR1000RR; 22.
13. (62) Cory Call; MDK Motorsports; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 22.
14. (121) Hawk Mazzotta; Aussie Dave Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 21.
15. (47) Mark Crozier; Four Feathers Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 21.
16. (58) Eric Haugo; Moto Garage Racing; Yamaha YZF-R1; 21.
17. (38) Dean Mizdal; M Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 21.
18. (45) Brad Puetz; SRK Racing; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 21.
19. (269) Johnny Rock Page; Johnny Rock Page · 944 Magazine · Energized by Verve!; Yamaha YZF-R1; 21.
20. (59) Jake Holden; Holden Racing; Honda CBR1000RR; 8.
21. (23) Aaron Yates; Jordan Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 6.
22. (18) Chris Ulrich; Roadracingworld.com · Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R1000; 3.
Race Time: 35:39.437
Margin of Victory: 1.833 seconds
Winner's Average Speed: 85.9 mph
Lap Leaders
Mladin: 1 - 22
DAYTONA SPORTBIKE
1. (36) Martin Cardenas; M4 Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R600; 22.
2. (40) Jason DiSalvo; M4 Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R600; 22.
3. (8) Josh Herrin; Team Graves Yamaha; Yamaha YZF-R6; 22.
4. (6) Tommy Aquino; Team Graves Yamaha; Yamaha YZF-R6; 22.
5. (1x) Jake Zemke; Erion Racing; Honda CBR600RR; 22.
6. (15) Steve Rapp; Bazzaz; Yamaha YZF-R6; 22.
7. (10) Chris Peris; Erion Racing; Honda CBR600RR; 22.
8. (27) Bobby Fong; Four Feathers Racing; Yamaha YZF-R6; 22.
9. (54) Taylor Knapp; Latus Motors Racing; Buell 1125R; 22.
10. (51) Damian Cudlin; Paradigm Racing; Yamaha YZF-R6; 22.
11. (60) Michael Beck; Team Beck Racing; Yamaha YZF-R6; 22.
12. (9) Danny Eslick; Bruce Rossmeyers Daytona Racing · RMR Buell; Buell 1125R; 22.
13. (88) Jamie Hacking; Monster Energy Attack Kawasaki; Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R; 22.
14. (311) Robertino Pietri; Team E.S.P. Yamaha; Yamaha YZF-R6; 22.
15. (5) Russ Wikle; Roadracingworld.com · Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R600; 22.
16. (47) Mark Crozier; Four Feathers Racing; Yamaha YZF-R6; 22.
17. (32) Santiago Villa; Roadracingworld.com · Suzuki; Suzuki GSX-R600; 22.
18. (7) Fernando Amantini; Amantini Racing; Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R; 22.
19. (193) Liko Miles; Miles Ahead Racing; Suzuki GSX-R600; 22.
20. (73) Dylon Husband; Team Pur Sang Racing; Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R; 21.
21. (90) Jamie LeBlanc; East Coast Racing; Honda CBR600RR; 21.
22. (250) Nadr Riad; Riad Racing; Aprilia RSV1000R; 21.
23. (181) Craig Mason; Fast 50s · Slide Motorsports; Yamaha YZF-R6; 21.
24. (370) Clinton Gibson; Fast Track Education; Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R; 21.
25. (68) Kevin Boisvert, Canada; Bayside Performance; Suzuki GSX-R600; 20.
26. (45) Josh Bryan; Latus Motors Racing; Buell 1125R; 18.
27. (55) Chris Fillmore; Chris Fillmore Racing; Yamaha YZF-R6; 9.
28. (89) Chip Yates; Swigz.com Pro Racing; Suzuki GSX-R600; 9.
29. (160) Sebastiao Ferreira; Ferreira Racing; Suzuki GSX-R600; 7.
30. (97) Ben Thompson; Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies Team; Aprilia RSV1000R
31. (57) Chaz Davies; Factory Aprilia Millennium Technologies Team; Aprilia RSV1000R; 5.
32. (96) Ricky Parker; RPR Racing; Yamaha YZF-R6; 3.
Race Time: 37:10.172
Margin of Victory: 0.104 seconds
Winner's Average Speed: 82.4 mph
Lap Leaders
Herrin: 1 - 11; DiSalvo: 12; Cardenas: 13 - 22
