AMA: Mladin aims to break Ducati's Road America Winning Streak
7 June 2000
PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Defending American Motorcyclist Association
(AMA) Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Champion Mathew Mladin comes to this
weekend's (June 8-11) doubleheader Superbike event at Road America on a
three-race winning streak and a 14-point lead in the series standings.
The 28-year-old Australian will attempt to keep his hot streak alive
while at the same time ending another streak held by the Italian motorcycle
maker Ducati. Ducati riders have won the last four AMA Chevy Truck
Superbike rounds held on the scenic four-mile Road America road racing
circuit, near Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
Mladin is one of four former Superbike winners at Road America who
will compete in the two back to back Superbike races ? one on Saturday and
the other on Sunday. Other former winners of the race include three-time
AMA Superbike champ Doug Chandler who rides for Kawasaki; Harley-Davidson
factory rider Pascal Picotte; and Honda's Miguel Duhamel, the all-time win
leader in AMA Superbike racing.
With its long, high-speed straightaways and fast sweeping curves, Road
America is one of the riders' favorite tracks on the Chevy Trucks U.S.
Superbike circuit. This year's race marks the 20th anniversary of AMA
Superbike racing at the facility. Motorcycle Hall of Fame rider Freddie
Spencer won the very first Superbike race held at Road America in 1980.
Spencer will be on hand at the event doing live television commentary for
the Speedvision Network.
Doug Polen won at Elkhart Lake on a Ducati in 1993. That victory
began a long domination for the Italian machines at Road America. Only
Miguel Duhamel's narrow win over Honda teammate Mike Hale and Ferracci
Ducati's Mike Smith in 1995 has kept Ducati riders from total domination in
the last seven years.
Mladin appears to have a strong chance of breaking Ducati's string of
victories. The defending champ has gone three for three so far this season.
He started off the year winning the prestigious Daytona 200, and last
weekend was victorious in the doubleheader at Road Atlanta. Mladin knows
what it takes to win at Road America; he won riding a Ferracci Ducati in
1997.
There is added excitement for the event, with two-time world Champion
John Kocinski returning to Road America. Kocinski was a last-minute
replacement for Vance & Hines Ducati rider Troy Bayliss, who has jumped to
the World Superbike Series. Kocinski, who hadn't even sat on a motorcycle
for eight months, finished seventh and fourth in the two nationals last
week at Atlanta. Kocinski is a former two-time 250 Grand Prix winner at
Road America.
Supporting the Superbike twin bill is a full slate of top national
racing.
In the MBNA 250 Grand Prix Series, Rich Oliver is the all-time win
leader. Oliver, who has six wins at Road America dating back to 1988, is
hoping to close on series leader Chuck Sorensen after Oliver suffered a
rare mechanical breakdown in the series opener at Daytona.
In the Pro Honda Oils 600 SuperSport Series, young Eric Bostrom broke
through with his first victory last weekend in Atlanta. Bostrom will try to
keep that momentum going this weekend in the highly-competitive 600
series. Among the riders Bostrom will have to beat are defending Road
America 600 SuperSport winner Jamie Hacking and four-time Road America 600
SuperSport winner Miguel Duhamel.
In the Lockhart Phillips USA 750 SuperSport Series, a 16-year-old
teenage sensation from California named John Hopkins has emerged as the
rider to beat. Hopkins should be the overwhelming favorite to win the 750
SuperSport race this weekend.
In the Buell Pro Thunder Series, local ace Shawn Conrad is hoping to
win at his home track in the Buell Pro Thunder final. Conrad, of Sheboygan
Falls, Wis., is the defending series champ.
In the eSportbike.com Formula Xtreme race, second-generation racer
Kurtis Roberts hopes to give Honda its fourth straight win in the series.
Roberts, son of legendary world champion Kenny Roberts, is the defending
winner of the class.
For tickets to the AMA Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike Championship races
at the Road America Coca - Cola Super Cycle Classic, call (800) 365-RACE.
Saturday and Sunday's Chevy Trucks U.S. Superbike races will be broadcast
live on Speedvision, at 3pm local time. Check local listings, as broadcast
times may vary. For immediate post-race results, rider information, AMA Pro
Racing notes and news, check amaproracing.com.
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