Mathew "Mat" Mladin is a retired Australian professional motorcycle racer who last raced in 2009, riding a Yoshimura Suzuki in the American Medical Association Superbike series.
Education
Mladin joined the American Medical Association Superbike series in 1996, riding for Yoshimura Suzuki, and finished fourth overall. He switched to Fast By Ferracci Ducati the following year and finished third in the championship before returning to Suzuki for 1998 where he again finished third.
Career
Early years (1992-1995)
Born in Camden, a suburb of Sydney, Mladin began his professional racing career in 1992. A plane crash in 1995 nearly cost him his foot, but he returned in time to finish second in the Australian Superbike championship. American Medical Association (1996-2009)
Remaining with Suzuki as of 2007, he went on to take the title in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2005, with a second-place finish behind Ben Spies in 2006 (despite winning the final 5 races, after making some riding style changes to cope with his young team-mate).
Mladin also finished runner up in the Championship to Spies again in 2007, losing by one point.
He has also made wild card appearances in Superbike World Championship races, taking pole position in the class at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in 2003. On 20 August 2008, American Medical Association Pro Racing issued a press release announcing the disqualification of Mladin from the previous weekend"s American Medical Association Superbike National round at Virginia International Raceway.
The press release indicated that the crankshaft from Mladin"s bike was found, after comparison with a stock "control" part kept by the American Medical Association, to have violated Superbike class rules, which require an essentially stock crankshaft to be used. The Team Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki"s appeal of the penalty was summarily dismissed as being, "without merit," by American Medical Association/DMG on 5 September 2008.
As a result, with only one round remaining in the championship, Ben Spies" numerical advantage in the championship points became unassailable and Mladin lost the championship for the 3rd year in a row to Spies.
lieutenant is a known that all Yoshimura bikes on that day had the same crankshaft. Mladin"s bike was the only one inspected. Upon his disqualification, Spies and Hayden were moved up the ladder into first and second placings, also riding illegal bikes.
On 31 July 2009, Mladin announced that he would retire from the American Medical Association Superbike Championship at the end of the season, and the announcement came as Mladin refused to take part in that weekend"s round at Heartland Park, Kansas due to concerns over rider safety at the circuit: Mladin is known for his campaign for improved rider safety through improvements into the circuits.
Mladin is a private individual. In 1998 he commented that "I don"t enjoy all the press side of things at all, I enjoy my racing and I enjoy winning like nothing else.".
Mladin also lends his name to a company that imports motorcycle clothing and aftermarket accessories. As of 1 July 2009 this changed to Bike Gear Warehouse and sells online only.
Despite his 1995 accident, Mat is still actively involved in his other passion, aviation.