Rockstar Makita Yoshimura Suzuki's Mat Mladin scored his third straight AMA Superbike victory of the season on Saturday at Mid-Ohio, handing his team an amazing 40th consecutive premier class win while upping his all-time wins mark to 69.
However, Saturday's final was anything but business as usual, as the chaotic affair included three red flags, numerous crashes (including one by Mladin), and took well over two hours to finally complete.
Mladin and second-placed Hacking crashed separately just feet apart as they crested the hill in Turn 9. Incredibly, the cause was fluid on the circuit that had leaked from an over-passing bridge, presumably after a fan dumped a cooler over the track.
Despite not falling, Spies was in visible pain as he returned to the pits following a near highside. Meanwhile, Mladin remounted and made it back fairly quickly while Hacking finally did the same after having to push his ZX-10R for a considerably distance before finally getting it running again.
The final restart saw the races last nine laps raced in succession. The Australian grabbed yet another holeshot and quickly worked up an advantage.
Behind, Hacking held off title leader Spies until the Texan finally ducked to the inside on the brakes entering Turn 6 on the penultimate lap. Spies went on to finish second after the arduous affair while Hacking rounded out the podium.
Results - Saturday
Pos.No.Rider nameBikeLapInt.
16Mathew MladinSuzuki GSX-R100019---
21Ben SpiesSuzuki GSX-R1000191.966
32Jamie A. HackingKawasaki ZX-10R192.423
440Jason DiSalvoYamaha YZF-R1197.940
522Tommy HaydenSuzuki GSX-R1000198.730
695Roger HaydenKawasaki ZX-10R1911.526
732Eric BostromYamaha YZF-R11911.654
899Geoff MaySuzuki GSX-R10001915.569
98Chris PerisSuzuki GSX-R10001920.667
1061Scott JensenSuzuki GSX-R10001921.923
Etc.
However, Saturday's final was anything but business as usual, as the chaotic affair included three red flags, numerous crashes (including one by Mladin), and took well over two hours to finally complete.
Mladin and second-placed Hacking crashed separately just feet apart as they crested the hill in Turn 9. Incredibly, the cause was fluid on the circuit that had leaked from an over-passing bridge, presumably after a fan dumped a cooler over the track.
Despite not falling, Spies was in visible pain as he returned to the pits following a near highside. Meanwhile, Mladin remounted and made it back fairly quickly while Hacking finally did the same after having to push his ZX-10R for a considerably distance before finally getting it running again.
The final restart saw the races last nine laps raced in succession. The Australian grabbed yet another holeshot and quickly worked up an advantage.
Behind, Hacking held off title leader Spies until the Texan finally ducked to the inside on the brakes entering Turn 6 on the penultimate lap. Spies went on to finish second after the arduous affair while Hacking rounded out the podium.
Results - Saturday
Pos.No.Rider nameBikeLapInt.
16Mathew MladinSuzuki GSX-R100019---
21Ben SpiesSuzuki GSX-R1000191.966
32Jamie A. HackingKawasaki ZX-10R192.423
440Jason DiSalvoYamaha YZF-R1197.940
522Tommy HaydenSuzuki GSX-R1000198.730
695Roger HaydenKawasaki ZX-10R1911.526
732Eric BostromYamaha YZF-R11911.654
899Geoff MaySuzuki GSX-R10001915.569
98Chris PerisSuzuki GSX-R10001920.667
1061Scott JensenSuzuki GSX-R10001921.923
Etc.