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http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/Jul/e/n090731e.htm (http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/Jul/e/n090731e.htm)

http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/150691/1/mat_mladin_announces_retirement.html (http://www.crash.net/world+superbikes/news/150691/1/mat_mladin_announces_retirement.html)

No explicit digs at DMG/NASBIKE but anyone with context knows. Good for Mat...he'll probably go out on top, and it'll make a statement.

Wow he's 37.  I always thought of him as younger. 

Good for you Mat, thanks for the great memories. [bow_down]

(If you get to do it all over again, please go to WSB and PROVE you are the best. ;D)

sure, everyone knows his opinion lately.  but he was on the edge of retiring a few years ago too, before Ben came along and gave him something to do.


... more than probably.  he has a 126 point lead right now; could have wrapped up his seventh title this weekend if he had raced.  likely will be sewn up in two weeks at VIR, which is fitting.  

he certainly has nothing to prove, especially [insert sarcasm] now that "we" all know his dominance wasn't soley from the unobtainium Yosh.  give him a pit scooter and he'd give everyone a run for their money.

too bad that he won't be running a team, at least under the current program.

"....retire from AMA...." leaves some other doors open.  At 37 he's still young enough to try his hand at another motocycle venue...  [evil]

Really? I thought he was older than me, but no.

I wish him well. He's had a lot of success and is a fabulously talented rider. Though I was never a fan, I respect his ability and his commitment to rider safety.

he's probably just bored.  I'd like to see him in WSBK so ben, haga, and fabrizio have someone to race with.

I think we all could see this coming with the departure of Spies (a great rival!) and the inclusion of the DMG nonsense. He's probably still pissed at the AMA for stripping him of that win last year over the bogus crankshaft issue. Thanks for all the great memories Mat! [thumbsup] A great racer who always told it like it was. [clap]

That would pretty interesting...Max and Michel have done pretty well. I suppose Josh H, Ben B, and Tommy H got to be pretty excited about next year.

I got to watch he and Ben swap leads and leave everyone else for dead at Road Atlanta a few times.

I'm sure there are a lot of people who ride motorcycles for a living that are glad to see him go.

I never had a problem with him. Hell of a guy in my book. [thumbsup]

LA

It'll be a shame to see him go, just like it was when Ben left for WSB. People may not enjoy the domination they had but what they were watching were two excellent racers, who were at least a class above the rest, battle it out. What a pleasure it is to have such a problem. Now we'll have the other guys, amazing as they are, battle it out. It's closer racing and that's great but I can't help but feel a bit short changed. It'd be cool if Mat went to WSB but I'm not sure how likely that is.

It doesn't really matter because I can't maintain interest in the DMG series anyway. The way it's being run is a massive disservice to all the riders.

he says he's done racing... if we're lucky, he'll end up fielding a team of upcoming racer(s).

Doesn't he do something like that already in Australia? I know he lives here in the States but I swear I remember reading something about his involvement in a racing team in Australia... maybe Aussie SBK series??? Any Aussies out there who know anything about this? Hey, throw a shrimp on the barbie for me while you're at it!! [thumbsup] [laugh] [beer]

http://www.bikegearwarehouse.com.au/ (http://www.bikegearwarehouse.com.au/)

Didn't know about that business interest of Mat's but I swear I read (or think I did...) about some bike race team he was involved in and I think it was in Australia. Oh well, could be wrong... it's happened before. ;D

Stoner and his Dad support/run a youth race team in Oz.  Stoner regularly gives the riders advice and calls to check their results during the season.