Well it has been a great off-season. A few days after the last race of 2006 I had a bit of surgery done to fix a few niggling problems and to prepare for 2007. This pre-season preparation has been the best ever. A lot of miles have been logged over the past four months. I am even scratching my head at my own condition. It helps when you are pain-free to get in a good off-season.

2007 is shaping up to be a cracker. I am more excited about it than any other year. I would be lying to you if I said last year was a disappointment. It was very much the opposite. Now I'm as motivated as I've ever been. Anyone who thinks they are going to go through life without hurdles or steps back needs to seriously reconsider. Life is about adapting and overcoming weaknesses and limitations. 2006 was a good season. For the standards I have set over the years, 2006 wasn't the greatest result, a learning experience yes, a disappointment no.

Over the past few years I have been working with Simon Sostaric, an exercise physiologist and coach, to help improve my conditioning, nutrition and overall preparation for race day. It was tedious at first because it was new, something I hadn't done before, something I wasn't sure of. I am thirty-five on Daytona race day and have more energy now than ever, and more drive to get up and after it every day.

Together we have started a new coaching / training business. 'Mat Mladin & Simon Sostaric's INSIDER TRAINING.

The 'Sostaric' part of the equation comes not only with the degree but also the real world success to back it up. A previous four-minute miler' and publisher of world class research to name just a little, he has worked with and for some of the biggest football teams in Australia, athletes on different continents including Olympic cyclists and runners, European based Pro-Tour cyclists, and amongst other things, time in Kenya studying the performance of these awesome marathon runners. Living in the dirt with them, testing them and talking over possible ways of how to run marathons quicker. (To me, running 26.2 miles quicker than 2:04 is mind blowing). His credentials speak for themselves. He is now based in the USA, and is pursuing his interest in motor sports, knowing it is in its infancy when it comes to understanding the specific demands.

We have completed many tests over the past few years, essentially to explore the physical demands on the body of a motorcycle racer, with some very intriguing results. Subsequently, we have learned a lot about the best possible racing preparation, and that it continually evolves.

There is so much more to getting fit than going for a cycle, motocross session, run, or going to the gym. The specific fitness demands of motorcycle racing requires a perfect balance of intensity, duration, frequency and recovery - all dependent on the athletes age, experience and injury history.

As motorcycle technology evolves, the demands on the rider are increasing significantly. The old saying comes to mind, "That's when racers were real men". If being a real man meant getting drunk the night before a race, staying up for most of that night and having a few Malboro's on the grid, then, yes, back in the day was when racers were real men. I'm not talking about being a man. I'm talking about being in the best possible physical condition you can be because these days you need to be and looking forward it is only going to be more so. Our sport has changed dramatically since the old days.

If I had the knowledge fifteen years ago that I have gained over the past few years working with Simon, I believe my career would have taken a very different path. I have no doubt that my longevity in the sport will be better for it.

I am sure all the racers reading this have heard "How hard can riding a motorcycle be" I know I have heard it thousands of times. It is the mentality that the general public have, and in a way has been the reason behind why the motorcycling fraternity hasn't paid any attention to how important it is to be well trained. Believe me on this. The things we have learned over the past few years allows all racers to be called athletes. What happens on the track is grueling.

I had the idea last year that I want to help our sport get to the next level regarding professionalism. Riders are being paid hundreds of thousands--millions of dollars, but are not made to prove their worth. Fading at the end of a race when you are paid 'squillions is not an option, but it is something that the manufacturers allow to happen. I personally know athletes that get paid very, very little in other sports that stick to a strict schedule to enhance their ability to compete and recover effectively; looking for the extra 0.1% or millisecond that ultimately makes the difference between winning and losing.

The biggest problem in our sport is that there are very few people in the world that have studied the demands of motorcycle racing on the athlete. There is nothing in the literature like there is for say cycling, running, tennis, football or any other sport that you can think of that requires physical activity. It just hasn't been studied. I want to be a part of changing that for the future.

I want to contribute to changing the way racers look at this stuff. It is more important than most think. Personally I believe it should be in all racers contracts that they be trained and submit to at least a few fitness tests throughout the year. Any kids out there who are inspired to be successful professional racers, there is a big hole ready to be filled by those who are truly professional on and off the bike, athletes who are marketable and who bring it every weekend. This is a big challenge for an aspiring racer these days as is learning how to go fast. They have to go hand in hand.

I see it as investing in your own future!

Interested parties can contact info@ms-insidertraining.com for more information.

The 2007 season is fast approaching and Daytona is just around the corner. I am really looking forward to getting into the season. Pre-season testing went really well also. The new GSXR1000 is awesome again. I'm not sure how Suzuki keep producing such awesome bikes, but whatever they are doing works. At our most recent Fontana test we were well under last years race pace and that gave the team some confidence.

Ride smart and stay safe

Mat