Mat Mladins Crankshaft impounded

[bigoltool]

Anybody hear anything more about Mladin's crankshaft being impounded? His was apparently the only one torn down at VIR and now Yoshimura is sending some stock cranks to the AMA to verify if it is legal. Diid one of the other teams protest him? Just another nail in the coffin of the AMA!

 

[tinmann840]

Looks like it's true

http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=12812

 

[bigoltool]

I knew it happened but just wasn't sure what led up to it. The way he spanked everybody it is no wonder somebody protested him. What is he going to do next year with no Ben Spies to race against? Lap the field for kicks?

 

[Busa1166]

Hope it works out all ok for him. I like wacthing him run. And if he is legit i guess the protester willl have to admit he got pwnd on the track.

 

[Rayabusa0818]

I knew it happened but just wasn't sure what led up to it. The way he spanked everybody it is no wonder somebody protested him. What is he going to do next year with no Ben Spies to race against? Lap the field for kicks?

I think he is planning to retire after this season ???

 

[HillbillyTom]

Today (Wednesday) was when the other cranks were supposed to be at the AMA for inspection so should hear a verdict tommorrow or Friday. I understand that this isn't the first time this year the AMA have put some of the Yosh team's stuff under the microscope. Everything has passed muster so far.

 

[gtrpimp76]

BOMBSHELL!!


Unless they find Ben's bike to be in violation of the crankshaft rules, He has already won the 2008 AMA Superbike Championship!!
http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Aug/080821atf.htm

I wonder if Ben's bike has the same violations, as they are both Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki's.

 

[Spudley]

Ohhhh...leave my boy alone...Mladin's the SH!D....

 

[Garrison]

I wonder if he even knew about it? I mean he's a hell of a rider, easily capable of out riding most, if not all of us. I can't imagine he would desire that extra "edge"... Especially if Spies is still kicking his ass

 

[NX95240]

+2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ohhhh...leave my boy alone...mladin's the sh!d....

 

[Mr Bogus]

geez, in NHRA you KNOW who protested your setup (they get pulled in right along side of you and get the exact same inspection) no secrets there....

 

[bigoltool]

Wow thats a shock! I'll Bet Spies is feeling a bit hollow right now though. Nobody wants to back into a championship like that.

 

[coop65sr]

He had already made it known at the race at Barbers back in April that with Ben more than likely going to MotoGP that he would also retire at the end of the year....that's what he implied there....And I got the Busa T-shirt autographed by both of them in their LAST year in AMA!!!! Got an up-and-coming MotoGP star and a LEGEND of the AMA to autograph my Busa shirt....Gotta be a collectors item, don't ya think??? Will be to me anyway

 

[bigoltool]

Hows this for Ironic. Tommy Hayden now has two 2nd place finishes for the season!

How many other non-Yoshimura riders in the paddock can say that

 

[HillbillyTom]

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Aug/080821atf.htm

I wonder if Ben's bike has the same violations, as they are both Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki's.

That's the same type of thing they busted Steve Rapp but not his team mate Chaz Davies for earlier this summer.

I just can't imagine a team on the level of professionalism as Mladin's (or Rapp's Attack Kawi team for that matter) trying to push any rule. Especially something as obvious (they havn't posted what the "violation" was exactly) as an altered crankshaft, that they knew would be inspected with a magnifying glass after a top 3 finish.

??????

 

[coop65sr]

Got him too in the middle with the autograph...My shirt is gaining value

 

[bigoltool]

The AMA site has Spies with a 101 point lead going into Road Atlanta. By my math there are 112 points (3 races left, 36 points for a win and 1 point per event for pole and 1 per race for most laps led) left on the table. Spies could foreseeably miss a few rounds just to tighten things up for the final at Laguna? Probably not but what the heck?


Unless they find Ben's bike to be in violation of the crankshaft rules, He has already won the 2008 AMA Superbike Championship!!

 

[gtrpimp76]

Talkin with a few WERA and WSMC racers who have a little insight with Yosh, obviously the engines are rebuilt prior to each round. With that said, even though Tommy Hayden, Mat Mladin, and Ben Spies are Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki team mates, they all have different engine builders, chassis, electronics specialists, etc....

It could also be possible Mladin had no idea of the illegal crankshaft. With VIR a very high speed direction change type of track, a "lightened crankshaft" may reduce some gyroscopic effect and help aid in the bike's turn-in ability. But the advantage is so small, we're talking 0.001ths/sec per lap.

I would love to know who filed the protest.

 

[GIXERHP]

This doesn't look good!

MAT MLADIN DISQUALIFIED FROM
VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY SUPERBIKE RACES

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida - AMA Pro Racing announced today that Mat Mladin has been disqualified from the August 16-17, 2008 AMA Superbike Championship presented by Parts Unlimited round at Virginia International Raceway following the outcome of post-race technical inspections.

The crankshaft from the #6 Rockstar Makita Suzuki was sent to AMA headquarters in Pickerington, Ohio, and was compared to other production crankshafts from the same model. Upon this inspection, the crankshaft was found to be in non-compliance of the 2008 AMA Superbike Championship Rulebook.

Please note the following rules for reference.

Superbike, 2.4 Crankshaft
Only the homologated crankshaft is permitted with the following modifications:
a. Bearing surfaces may be polished or surface treated.
b. Balancing is permitted only by the same method used by the OEM. For example, heavy metal (i.e. Mallory metal) inserts are not permitted unless they were originally specified by the OEM.
c. Attachment of aftermarket ignition components or sensors is permitted.
d. Primary gears can not be changed or modified.

A3 Equipment Offenses and Penalties
This section deals with violations of equipment regulations. Regardless of a motorcycle passing prior inspections, compliance with all applicable equipment rules must be made at the post race inspection. Any motorcycle found to be in violation of equipment rules may be assumed to have been in violation for the entire race meet. In passing a motorcycle through technical inspection, AMA Racing does not warrant that motorcycle's adherence with all rules. Each participant assumes full responsibility for any violation of equipment rules involving his/her motorcycle.
a. Category 1 - An equipment violation that could potentially or effectively enhance the performance of a motorcycle used in competition.

A3.3 Penalties: At the discretion of AMA Racing, any or all of the following penalties may be administered.
a. Category 1
1. Disqualification
2. Total or partial loss of points or laps
3. Total or partial loss of prize money
4. Suspension
5. Fine

The team was notified on August 20, 2008

 

[Garrison]

I would love to know who filed the protest.

So they could be beaten for being such whiny little *******.