Six-time and defending AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin turned the quickest time during the first day of a two-day AMA team test at Miller Motorsports Park (MMP), near Salt Lake City, Utah. Riding his Dunlop-shod Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000, Mladin turned a time of 1:54.769 around the 3.06-mile, 15-turn “Perimeter Course,” the course AMA Pro Racing will most likely race on during its inaugural event at MMP in June. “It’s good,” said Mladin, when asked what he thought of MMP. “It’s a nice layout. I think it’s a good racetrack. As always, there’s going to be places where things are certainly not quite right and there are a few out there, but it’s a good racetrack. We certainly can’t complain too loudly given some of the places we have to go race at. But I think there are some things they can change quite easily and make it a lot better. We’re going to go and talk here in a few minutes, get a few of the things out there, see what they say.” At the end of the day, a debriefing session was held, involving most of the riders and team managers, AMA Pro Racing Superbike Series Manager Ron Barrick and other AMA Pro Racing officials, MMP designer and General Manager Alan Wilson, MMP Director of Motorcycle Operations Dan Solomon and MMP Director of Racing Mitch Wright. The group went over the track corner-by-corner to discuss problems, safety concerns, possible improvements, etc. Aside from the location of some curbings, Airfence safety modules and gravel traps, the main issues discussed were how traffic from pit lane would be merged onto the racetrack and the location of an Armco barrier on the outside of the track at the exit of the final corner. After some debate, possible solutions for each issue were proposed. There was also some debate over whether to try the full, 4.5-mile course on Sunday or not. Although AMA Pro Racing may race on the longer, more technical course in the future, it seems that it was decided to postpone testing on the full course until a later date. Another issue during testing Saturday, discussed outside of the debriefing, was the rate of tire wear on the track’s abrasive surface, which is not unusual for a brand new racing surface. “The track is brand new, and it’s very, very hard on tires,” said Mladin, who stated he is only at the MMP test to test tires for Dunlop and learn the track. “After a few laps, the tires are pretty much gone. But it’s good to come out and do some laps and figure out which way the track goes and that sort of stuff.” Hotbodies Racing’s Cory West, who rides on Pirellis, and Leo Vince/Pegram Racing Honda’s Larry Pegram, who rides on Michelins, also reported excessive tire wear issues Saturday. Three riders crashed Saturday afternoon, but not one of the three riders reported an injury. Hotbodies Racing/Mat Mladin Motorsports Suzuki’s Marty Craggill was the first rider to crash at MMP, losing the front in the final turn, a second-gear left-hander called “Release.” A few minutes later, Jamie Hacking crashed his Graves Yamaha YZF-R1 LE when he got off the clean line and into a dirty section of the fast (fourth-gear) right-hand sweeper in the middle of the track, turn seven or “Witchcraft.” The day ended with Attack Kawasaki’s Damon Buckmaster lowsiding his ZX-6RR Supersport bike in turn eight, “First Attitude,” the entrance to a rolling set of esses. Saturday Afternoon AMA Test Times (as provided by AMA Pro Racing timing & scoring): 1. Mat Mladin (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:54.769 Superbike 2. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:55.387 Superbike 3. Tommy Hayden (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:55.975 Superbike 4. Jason DiSalvo (Yam YZF-R1 LE), 1:56.350 Superstock 5. Jamie Hacking (Yam YZF-R1 LE), 1:57.489 Superstock 6. Ben Attard (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:58.034 Superstock 7. Damon Buckmaster (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:58.209 Superstock 8. Jason DiSalvo (Yam YZF-R6), 1:58.368 Formula Xtreme 9. Eric Bostrom (Yam YZF-R1 LE), 1:58.372 Superstock 10. Roger Hayden (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:59.328 Supersport 11. Marty Craggill (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:59.408 Superstock 12. Larry Pegram (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:59.848 Superstock 13. Ben Attard (Kaw ZX-6RR), 1:59.931 Supersport 14. Cory West (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:00.163 Superstock 15. Jamie Hacking (Yam YZF-R6), 2:00.471 Supersport 16. Eric Bostrom (Yam YZF-R6), 2:01.249 Formula Xtreme 17. Damon Buckmaster (Kaw ZX-6RR), 2:01.455 Supersport 18. Shane Turpin (Yam YZF-R1), 2:03.961 Superstock 19. C.R. Gittere (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:06.524 Superstock 20. Shane Turpin (Yam YZF-R6), 2:06.995 Supersport