Seven-time champ Mat Mladin shadowed by Tommy Hayden (Photo: Brian J Nelson)

Given a true shot with top-flight equipment, the following process almost invariably takes place:

By the end of their first season on competitive equipment, a rider's potential to show front-running speed (or not) is displayed.

By the end of their second season, they've maxed out in terms of sheer pace (albeit not always consistently so).

By their third or fourth season, they are as complete a championship contender as they will ever be. They are unlikely to get any faster, any more consistent, or any 'better.' What further separates the good, the great, and the legendary, is the ability to stay healthy, fit, motivated, and focused in order to maintain this peak level for as long as possible.

Three or four years and riders are essentially maxed out? Does this sound a little far-fetched to you?

Fine, let's consult the record books (while I'm primarily concerned with AMA Superbike, the same pattern applies to MotoGP and World Superbike as well. Go ahead and do some digging on your own).

The Making Of A Champion

First, let's go down the list of the AMA Superbike champions of the modern era and see how they fared starting with their first full season on factory equipment in the premier class.

Mat Mladin challenged for wins in year one, won multiple races in year two, and won the first of seven titles in year four.

Ben Spies won a race in year one, and won three consecutive titles in years two through four.

Nicky Hayden won races in his first full season and won the title in his third.

Ben Bostrom won the championship in his rookie season and became a race winner in his second.

Doug Chandler finished third in the championship in his first season, won races in his second, and took the title in his third.

Miguel DuHamel won a race in his rookie season and took the championship in his fourth.

Troy Corser won races and the championship in his rookie season.

Doug Polen won races in his first season on the factory team, and after traveling to race and win in Japan and World Superbike, won the AMA Superbike championship in his second full season on works equipment.

Scott Russell won races in his first year and took the championship in his fourth (and fell a combined seven points short of winning the championship two other times prior to that).