Suzuki's Mat Mladin has won three straight AMA Superbike championships, and shows no signs of letting up. He's healthy, his veteran crew is still intact, the bike is sharp, and he smells blood. So what's it going to take for the competition to take the title from Mladin in 2002?

At Honda, there are big changes for Big Red this year. Team manager Chuck Miller has been charged with bringing back the Superbike title. Miller's first move was dismiss their three Superbike studs -- Nicky Hayden, Miguel DuHamel and Kurtis Roberts -- from 600 Supersport duty this year, apart from Daytona.

Last season the Honda boys started slow after a rash of "electrical" problems caused RC51 motors to go bang at inopportune moments. Equally as damaging was the setback the engine problems caused the testing program -- the team missed early season testing and was forced to sort chassis issues during valuable race weekend track time.

Nicky Hayden needs to start next season as well as he finishes it. He concluded the 2001 season with three straight victories after a slow start. The Kid's 2001 title run was effectively over as soon as it began, with machine problems at Dayton putting him behind the eight ball very early. Then two crash-induced DNFs eliminated him from title contention.

"Reunited, And it Feels So Good", must be the tune going through Miguel DuHamel's mind these days. Al Ludigngton is back at Honda as Miggy's crewchief. The most successful pairing in AMA history looks to pick up where they left off in 1999 when Ludington went to Kawasaki.

The big difference these days is that ol' Number 17 is totally healthy after a few seasons struggling with the after-effects of some serious crashes, including a Loudon crash that nearly claimed his leg. Miguel was healthier last season, but the team never really solved some suspension problems that kept Miguel from winning a Superbike race for the first season since 1994.

Kurtis Roberts has a full season of Superbike experience under his belt and is reunited with Danny Hull, his chassis man at Erion when Roberts won Championships in 600 Supersport and Formula Xtreme. The always-aggressive Kurtis needs to concentrate on being smoother to avoid crashes, collisions, and shagging tires.

Anthony Gobert is back for a second season at Yamaha and looks to have a healthier year than last. When he wasn't beat up from his Loudon crash and his bike held together, Gobert proved he could run with anyone -- even on the slightly under powered Yamaha R7. Team manager Keith McCarty has significantly overhauled the Yamaha crew and Tony Romo is leading the Yamaha Superbike program this year. The first-time Superbike crewchief is charged with keeping the R7 competitive in the never-ending Superbike arms race.

Can Gobert win the title on the Yamaha? As always, Gobert's main goal is to maintain his focus over the course of the season. Arguably one of the most talented racers ever, Gobert mentally seemed to turn a corner of sorts last year, only to be let down by his body.

Kawasaki's Eric Bostrom will also forego a defense of the 600 Supersport class crown this year in a bid to wrestle the Superbike title from Mladin. Bostrom was in the hunt for the crown last season until the final race. There will be some changes in Bostrom's crew this year with Gary Medley taking over for Ludington. Medley has won Superbike titles with Russell and Ben Bostrom. Can Medley add another title to his resume?

A steady runner who seems in the mold of Doug Chandler, Eric has what it takes to steal away the number one plate. To beat Mladin, Bostrom needs to have his Laguna intensity at every race. The ZX-7 is not the peppiest bike in the paddock and Bostrom must qualify well to avoid getting held up in the pack like he was at Brainerd this year.

Mladin's Yoshimura teammates would like to see a new champ, but wish to keep the Number One plate "All In the Family" on a Suzuki GSX-R750. Aaron Yates has been a frontrunner ever since he rejoined Yosh two years ago -- when he hasn't been on the sidelines due to injury. Team manager Don Sakakura probably wouldn't mind if Yates took his off-season dirt bike training regime a little less seriously this winter. The evolution of Aaron's style means he can be fast at any track and crewchief Vic Fasola seems to be Yates's kindred spirit when it comes to tuning the GSX-R750's suspension.

The third Yosh rider, Jamie Hacking, was hired to win the 600 Supersport title last year. That didn't happen, but Hacking showed remarkable pace on the Superbike. Jamie won at Road Atlanta in the wet and ran near the front numerous times. With the help of riding coach Kevin Schwantz, Hacking tamed some of the aggression from his riding while retaining his speed. This will be another learning year for Hacking, but he should at the very least be a contender for several Superbike race wins in 2002.

Pascal Picotte emerges from the H-D detritus to join Mitch Hansen's HMC Ducati team for next season. Many believe Pascal still has what it takes to win Superbike races. After all, he's done it before on a Ducati, wining at Laguna and Elkhart when he was with Ferracci.

The biggest hurdle for the team will be a continued uphill battle with the checkbook. The HMC team is not an official factory squad, and Hansen will be required to make more with less. It won't be easy, but they do have top equipment and a talented rider.

While it won't be easy to take the Number One plate from Mladin, there are definitely some talented riders and mechanics among the challengers.