Mladin Sweeps AMA Superbike Doubleheader at Infineon

Suzuki’s Mladin Sweeps Superbike

Doubleheader at Infineon Raceway



SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) — Yoshimura Suzuki rider Mat Mladin
continued his early-season roll on Sunday, capturing a doubleheader in the
AMA Supercuts Superbike Challenge at Infineon Raceway. The event was
presented by Honda of Milpitas and Cabo Wabo Tequila.



Mladin has now won four consecutive Superbike main events and seems to be
returning to the same form that saw him capture three consecutive U.S. Chevy
Trucks Superbike championships from 1999-2001. Mladin holds a 24-point lead
over teammate Aaron Yates (174-150) after five events this year and is
bidding to become the first-ever four-time AMA Superbike champion.



“Last year really ticked me off because I didn’t feel enough people worked
hard enough to get the results (we wanted),” said Mladin, who is riding the
new GSX-R1000 this year. “Winning championships isn’t easy. It’s hard work
and I think we’re returning to that same form (we had when we won three
championships).”



Mladin was followed on the podium in the first 28-lap main event by Yates
and third-place finisher Miguel Duhamel (Honda). Mladin and Yates also
finished one-two in the second 28-lap feature, with Ben Bostrom (Honda)
taking third.



“I’m glad to see Suzuki take first and second but I need to really get out
in front if I want to catch Mat,” said Yates, the 1996 Superbike winner at
Infineon Raceway.



“Mat is setting the benchmark right now, and Aaron is right there, too,”
Bostrom said.



Yamaha’s Jamie Hacking posted his second consecutive victory of the year in
Pro Honda Oils Supersport, starting the 17-lap feature race on the pole and
never looking back. Teammate Damon Buckmaster was second, with Honda’s Jake
Zemke third. Hacking holds a 21-point lead over Buckmaster (106-85) after
three events.

The bike worked okay today. I won’t say it was great but it was pretty
good,” said Hacking, who won earlier this season in Fontana.

Duhamel, a four-time Superbike winner at Infineon Raceway, suffered a
fractured left collarbone during the Pro Honda Oils Supersport feature after
losing control of the bike on the backside of the track. Duhamel was taken
to Sonoma Valley Hospital, where X-rays revealed the fractured left
collarbone.

Other winners on Sunday included: Tommy Hayden (Kawasaki, Genuine Suzuki
Accessories Superstock); Ben Spies (Suzuki, Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula
Xtreme); and Rich Oliver (Yamaha, MBNA 250 Grand Prix).