Actually, I read an interview with Mladin a long time ago (2002) where he stated how different the two disciplines really are (MX and road). He was talking about how the Haydens benefited from dirt track experience, whereas he had to overcome MX habits.
Hayden was the last US pavement Champion to come from a dirt track background. I don't know who was the last US pavement Champion to come from an MX background. Mat Mladin, Troy Corser, Troy Bayliss and the rest began their pavement riding and racing on small bikes, as Fargin stated.
And none of them were MX Champions.
Anyway, the cream of the crop always rises and the top professionals seem to excel in various forms of two wheeled racing.
For the average rider, MX and Street are two divergent styles. They don't directly interchange.
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