From a press release issued by Mat Mladin’s publicist, Steve Reeves:

MLADIN CONFIDENT AFTER CONCLUDING PRE-SEASON TESTING AT FONTANA

Fontana, California, USA – Australian Mat Mladin has concluded his preparations for his defence of the AMA Chevy Trucks US Superbike Championship that he has won over the past three years after a one-day test at the California Speedway in Fontana, California on February 26.

Mladin was joined at the test by Team Yoshimura Suzuki teammates Aaron Yates and Jamie Hacking, with all three riders completing the final test programs before the championship commences next week with the Daytona 200.

Chassis setup was one of the key areas of testing for Mladin, with the team trying a number of different specification rear shocks in his 2002 model Suzuki GSX-R750 superbike. Mladin completed over 60 laps of the 3.80km (2.63mile) circuit.

“I’m very happy with how things went today,” said Mladin. “We came here with a few different things to try out that we couldn’t when we were here a couple of weeks ago and we are happy with the results that we achieved. It was a lot hotter and windier here today than at the previous test, so the track condition was slightly different, but apart from that, everything looks good for Daytona next week. Once we get there we’ll finalise out pit stop technique and strategies and see how things pan out during practice and qualifying.”

The altered circuit layout remained the same for the final Fontana test as it was for the previous test that was attended by a number of the leading AMA Superbike teams. No lap times were available from the latest test.

Mladin heads to Daytona next week chasing an unprecedented third consecutive Daytona 200 win, but more importantly it will be the first of sixteen rounds that will make up this year’s championship. Mladin will be chasing a further milestone as no rider has won four consecutive AMA Superbike crowns.

The Daytona Speedweek program will see the Superbikes on the circuit for the first time on Wednesday, March 6, with the 57-lap race scheduled for Sunday, March 10.