Rockstar Makita Suzuki’s Mat Mladin overcame cold, damp conditions to take his ninth from a possible 10 AMA Superbike wins of the season in the first race of the double-header weekend at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin.
The six-time AMA Superbike Champion started from pole position and got off to a conservative start in the wet. Even so, he took the lead within several laps and led all the way to the race’s end. This season, Mladin has captured all six pole positions in AMA Superbike, which means he has a career total of 61. Additionally, this victory is Mladin’s 81st career AMA Superbike victory.
Rockstar Makita Suzuki team mate Blake Young returned to racing after injuring his hand two rounds ago and despite the nasty conditions, the Rookie AMA Superbike rider brought home an impressive fifth-place finish.
Rounding out the three-man Rockstar Makita Suzuki team was Tommy Hayden, who struggled a bit before picking up a ninth-place result.
Mat Mladin:
“We had a bit of a problem in the warm-up so we didn’t get to do any laps. So the first lap and a half of the race I was trying to get the feel of the racetrack because I didn’t know how it was going to be. It worked out good for us, though. After that first lap, I got a bit of a feel for it and the Rockstar Makita Suzuki GSX-R1000 felt good and I decided to have a go at it…. I just kept trying to go.”
Tommy Hayden:
“I got a terrible start. I think on the first lap I was about 18th. From there, I kind of worked my way through the field. I managed to put in a few good laps but I realised I need to get a better start tomorrow if I want to run up front.”
Blake Young:
“The start wasn’t so good for us today. The Rockstar Makita Suzuki GSX-R1000 got off the line pretty good initially, but then I spun the tyre, when we crossed over the paint I think, and I just spun it all the way down the straightaway. I got passed and was back around seventh and then I just got a feel for the bike and started clicking off some pretty good laps. I started to catch up, and ended up fifth.”
AMA Superbike Top 10 Finishers:
1. Mat Mladin (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)
2. Michael Laverty (Suzuki)
3. Ben Bostrom (Yamaha)
4. Larry Pegram (Ducati)
5. Blake Young (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)
6. Aaron Yates (Jordan Suzuki)
7. Ryan Elleby (Suzuki)
8. David Anthony (Suzuki)
9. Tommy Hayden (Rockstar Makita Suzuki)
10. Mark Crozier (Suzuki)
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