Six-time AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin was stripped of his two race wins August 16-17 at VIRginia International Raceway after the crankshaft in his Rockstar Makita Suzuki GSX-R1000 was found to be in violation of the 2008 technical rules, according to AMA Pro Racing. “When we compared the crank from the winning bike to the control crank we had a 2008 GSX-R1000 crank it was obvious that there were significant differences in the manufacture of the two crankshafts,” AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition Colin Fraser told Roadracingworld.com Friday. “So we went back to Ohio [AMA headquarters], received two more crankshafts from Suzuki that matched the control crank that we already had in the truck, which had also gone back to Ohio. So at that point we had three stock GSX-R1000 crankshafts that all matched and one GSX-R1000 crankshaft out of the bike that won on Sunday at Virginia that did not match. And at that point, after everyone had a good look at them, the determination was made that that crank was illegal.” Even though it could not be guaranteed Mladin rode the same bike in both races, due to the wording in the rulebook he was disqualified from both races. “The rulebook is specific,” said Fraser. “It refers to the penalty applying across an event. So because this race was a double-header we applied the rule as we believe the rule was written to be applied.” Fraser followed up by saying this rule will be reviewed in 2009, when American Superbike and Daytona Superbike will race double-header events most weekends. Asked about the specific irregularities found with Mladin’s crankshaft, Fraser said, “It’s more about manufacturing issues. And understand I have to be really careful about what I say because I don’t want to say anything prejudicial to the appeals process. “We’ve been told Suzuki will appeal. We’re waiting on the paperwork. Our hope is to resolve the issue at Road Atlanta, because obviously the Championship is involved and dragging these things on never makes them better.” Peter Doyle, who has served as Mladin’s Crew Chief for several years and who ran Kawasaki’s World Superbike and Australian Superbike teams for several years before that, denied any wrongdoing. “Because of the appeal it’s very, very hard to go into any specifics,” said Doyle, “so I guess the only thing that we can say is we haven’t done anything wrong.” Asked if his crankshaft had been checked following any races earlier this season (Mladin won seven races before VIR), Doyle said his crankshaft was specifically inspected and passed at Auto Club Speedway in April. “They’ve been checked a number of times over the years,” said Doyle. “That part hasn’t changed since 2005 or something. It’s the same part number. It hasn’t changed.” Mladin declined to comment when contacted by Roadracingworld.com on Friday.