Suzuki's Mladin Ready for Infineon Raceway
Contact: John Cardinale (707) 933-3907 Suzuki's Mladin Looks for Repeat at Infineon Raceway SONOMA, Calif. (IMMEDIATE RELEASE) - Mat Mladin is off to a perfect start in the chase for the 2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship, and he hopes to continue his hot streak at Infineon Raceway, April 30-May 2, during the Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Cycle Gear. Mladin, who rides for Yoshimura Suzuki, opened the season with a victory at the prestigious Daytona 200 and followed that with a doubleheader sweep at California Speedway in Fontana, April 3-4. But things could change when he visits the Sonoma Valley, the first true road course on the 2004 AMA schedule. "I enjoy the Infineon Raceway layout, simply because it's a technical circuit," said Mladin, a native of Australia. "They've obviously made some changes there (increased runoff at Turns 1 and 6), and the new paving has made the race track a little smoother and a little safer. The track is certainly in better shape than it was 12 months ago." And so is Mladin. He won an AMA-record fourth Superbike championship in 2003, and he became the top winner in Superbike history with his victories in Fontana, giving him 27 for his career. Moreover, he enters the doubleheader weekend in Sonoma with a ton of confidence, having swept both main events there in 2003, leading 53 out of a possible 56 laps. Overall, he has three Superbike wins at Infineon Raceway, the other coming in 1999. "You really couldn't ask for a better start to the season, but you've got to put it in perspective and realize you're here to win the championship," Mladin said. "And to win that fifth championship would be very important for me." Mladin will be tested in Sonoma by four-time Infineon Raceway Superbike winner Miguel Duhamel (Honda), as well as Ducati's Eric Bostrom, who placed second behind Mladin in Fontana and is a native of nearby Petaluma in the North Bay. ### WHAT: Kawasaki AMA Superbike Showdown, presented by Cycle Gear. WHEN: April 30-May 2. SCHEDULE: Friday, April 30 - Practice and qualifying. Saturday, May 1 - Pro Honda Oils Supersport qualifying at 1 p.m.; AMA Superbike main event (28 laps), 2:30 p.m. Sunday, May 2 - Pro Honda Oils Supersport main event (17 laps), 1 p.m.; Supercuts Superbike Challenge (28 laps), 2 p.m. In addition, there will be racing in two other divisions, as well as Supermoto, a blend of on- and- off-road racing, on both Saturday and Sunday. ADVANCE COST: $10 Friday, $30 Saturday and $30 Sunday. $55 for a weekend pass. Children 12 and under are free. Parking is free. TICKETS: 800-870-RACE, www.infineonraceway.com <http://www.infineonraceway.com/> or www.ticketmaster.com <http://www.ticketmaster.com/> --------------------------- John Cardinale VP of Media/Community Relations Infineon Raceway Highways 37 &121, Sonoma, CA 95476 wk: 707-933-3907 cell: 707-334-9805