From a press release issued by Mat Mladin Motorsports:

MLADIN CHASES ELUSIVE BRAINERD SUPERBIKE VICTORY

Minnesota’s Brainerd International Raceway remains as one of only two circuits that Mat Mladin has never won a round in the eight years that he has competed in the American AMA Superbike Championship.

The four-times American AMA Superbike champion will be attempting to remedy that situation when the series heads to BIR for round 11 on Sunday, June 27.

“I’m looking forward to the race, it’s going to be a tough one for us, very similar to the last round at Road America, but hopefully we can be a bit closer at the end,” said Mladin.

“With a mile long front straight, Brainerd is one of the fastest tracks on the calendar. It won’t be pretty for us down the front straight, but hopefully we can make up some time around the back part of the circuit.

In the corresponding round last year, Mladin looked as though he may break through for his first race win, but a failing rear tyre, forced him to pit part-way though the race, eventually finishing seventh.

The tyre woes that affected his campaign have been addressed with Mladin not expecting any repeats of last year’s problems.

“Last year we were in the midst of the tyre problems that we were having then and I was forced to pit for a new tyre and finished down in seventh. I don’t expect those sorts of problems again at this round as Dunlop has worked hard on addressing those issues.”

After a blistering start to the season where Mladin scored five race wins from the opening six rounds aboard his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, he arrives at Brainerd holding a 10-point lead in the championship over Honda’s Miguel DuHamel. The second half of the season is shaping up to be a classic battle between two of the champions of the sport.

“At recent rounds, our rivals have taken some points away from us, but the bottom line is that I still have the lead and prefer to have that rather than be chasing it. We’re definitely not out of it yet.”

The determination to succeed which has become such a strong part of Mladin’s character is certain to shine at Brainerd as he chases every possible point that is available to be earned at the round.

Practice and qualifying for round 11 of the AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship is scheduled to commence on Friday (June 25), with the Superbike competitors taking to the circuit on Sunday for their 21-lap national.


BRAINERD INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY – FAST FACTS

Circuit length: 4.828km (3.00 miles)

2003 Pole position: Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:35.622

2003 Results:
1. Aaron Yates (Yoshimura Suzuki)
2. Miguel DuHamel (American Honda)
3. Kurtis Roberts (Erion Honda)
7. Mat Mladin (Yoshimura Suzuki)

Superbike lap record: Mat Mladin (Team Yoshimura Suzuki) 1:35.320 (2001)

2004 AMA Chevrolet Superbike Championship (Points after 10 of 18 rounds) 1. Mat Mladin (329, 5 wins); 2. Miguel DuHamel (319, 4 wins), 3. Jake Zemke (311), 4. Eric Bostrom (235, 1 win), 5. Geoff May (220); 6. Ben Bostrom (184), 7. John Haner (183), 8. Aaron Yates (165), 9. Eric Wood (161), 10. Lee Acree (156).