Mladdin tops Corser today

[J24Joe]

Mladdin topped Corsers time today.


I wanna see Troy on top. It's gotta be Mladdin's tires.


You know what....who cares....the Desmosedicci looked great in the snow today! Did we really want to talk about Suzuki?

[red_ryder]

Are the Pirelli control tires and AMA Superbike-spec Dunlops basically on the same level as far as performance? They're both slicks, right?

p.s. the GP06 looks mean!

[vduc]

Originally Posted by red_ryder

Are the Pirelli control tires and AMA Superbike-spec Dunlops basically on the same level as far as performance? They're both slicks, right?

They're both slicks, but that doesn't mean a whole lot with regards to same level of performance. In the end it doesn't matter as Troy C and Troy M. won't be going head to head. Now Troy B may have a problem with Troy C...lot of Troys

[SouthsideDuc]

Originally Posted by red_ryder

Are the Pirelli control tires and AMA Superbike-spec Dunlops basically on the same level as far as performance? They're both slicks, right?

p.s. the GP06 looks mean!

Short answer: no. Of course, having Mladin piloting the rubber around the track doesn't hurt the cause of Dunlop too much.

Tony

[ducatimike]

The Phillip Island Superbike lap records (Superpole of 1:32.193 and lap record of 1:33.019) belong to Troy Corser setting them on a freshly resurfaced track in 1999 on a Duke with Michelin tires.

Thought it was interesting that the ultimate lap record was on a 1999 duc, must be the 996 or 998 factory bike? Granted it was a new surface and Michelin tires, but I think its cool that the older duc was a really fast bike.

Mike

[red_ryder]

ok that's interesting- thanks guys. I remember reading that Corser was on qualifiers and Mladin was on race tires, which if true would be even more impressive.

little off topic, but what is the deal with Mladin anyway? He's got 6 AMA Superbike Championships and basically dominates the series. I just feel like he would be bored and lack motivation. I'm wondering why he doesn't go to WSBK or MotoGP?

a) he just loves beating the crap out of everyone in AMA
b) no opportunites/ rides in WSBK or MotoGP
b) Suzuki pays him enough to stay in AMA and to keep winning?

[MichaelBatt]

It seems to me that there is a bunch technology and R&D that takes place in WSBK, as opposed to AMA. AMA rules limitations are pretty severe whereas WSBK allow for a lot more freedom. One would normally think that this would make the WSBK bikes much faster, but not really, as new technology often has unseen consequences. The same Crash.net article that talked about Mladin's lap times also talked about traction control on Corser's WSBK bike which was not on Mladin's AMA bike. Big difference in performance and rideability and the way you need to ride them.

Take tires, for example. Mladin's been running with Dunlops for more then 7 years and knows them inside out. Pirelli's only been the spec tire for two full years, and Suzuki has largely been a non-player in WSBK until last year. That's a steep learning curve and a lot of variables. Given that Mladin is only .59s faster, based on fastest laps, that's not too shabby.

I think Mladin stays in AMA because he would rather be the big fish in a little pond. Remember that he used to run for Cagiva in the 500cc class back in 93-94 and he was terrible and in the prime of his life. Maybe his style was not fully tuned, but when you get smoked by the likes of Darryl Beattie, you've got issues.

He could jump to WSBK or MotoGP at the drop of a hat. Suzuki would build him a bike if he wanted to fill in or just do a one-off ride but he would probably not want to take the chance of looking like an idiot. Yes, Hodgson has had trouble in AMA. But I chalk it up to the track and track surfaces. After three or four years running on the best tracks in the world, Infineon and Mid-Ohio probably scared the crap out of him.