AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin has gotten back the point he was fined following a press conference at Loudon, but his $5000 fine stands in a settlement announced today by AMA Pro Racing.

The settlement will avoid litigation between Mladin and AMA Pro Racing. Mladin agreed to the settlement because the major issue was the loss of the point and because, according to one source close to the controversy, “$5000 isn’t worth litigating over.”

An AMA press release announcing the modified penalty follows:


AMA Pro racing modifies Mladin/Loudon conduct penalty

PICKERINGTON, Ohio — AMA Pro Racing announced today that it has agreed to modify the penalty imposed on Yoshimura Suzuki Superbike racer Mat Mladin following an incident at New Hampshire International Speedway on June 16.

An AMA Pro Racing press release dated June 19 explained that Mladin had been fined $5,000 and penalized a Superbike championship pole point for detrimental conduct during a post-qualifying press conference at the track. More specifically, the press release stated Mladin had been “using profanity at times” during the press conference, and had raised “personal issues” within this forum.

Since June, ensuing discussions with AMA Pro Racing officials, including a review of an audio recording from the June 16th press conference, clarified that Mladin used profanity only one time during that session, and that any criticisms he voiced were not intended to be personal in nature. Given this clarification, AMA Pro Racing has agreed to suspend the 1-point penalty for the duration of the 2001 racing season; barring any further incidents, the point will be restored to Mladin’s point tally at season’s end. The $5,000 fine, however, will remain intact.

Merrill Vanderslice, AMA Pro Racing’s Director of Competition, explained, “The key issue here is appropriateness. In a setting such as a press conference, racers serve as spokespersons for our sport. Their attitudes, actions and words have great impact on the general public, many of whom are youngsters coming up in our sport. It is important for all concerned with motorcycle racing to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on our sport.”



Editorial comment: We’re waiting for some explanation of how Valderslice’s conduct in meetings with riders along pit lane at Loudon qualifies as “appropriateness” or how it “reflects positively on our sport.”