ext3 sequential write thoughput degrades in 2.5.72-mm1

Compared with 2.5.72 the mm1 tree drops off on sequential write throughput for ext3. All other filesystems seem unaffected. This degrade stays in mm2 and mm3. Do not have the data from 2.5.73 yet. Full data can be found at:
http://ltcperf.ncsa.uiuc.edu/data/2.5.72-mm1/2.5.72-vs-2.5.72-mm1/

                                    tolerance = 1.00 + 3.00% of 2.5.72
                2.5.72   2.5.72-mm1
   Theads      MBs/sec      MBs/sec    %diff         diff    tolerance
---------- ------------ ------------ -------- ------------ ------------
        1        42.98        43.54     1.30         0.56         2.29
       16        11.04         6.08   -44.93        -4.96         1.33  *
       64         3.88         2.61   -32.73        -1.27         1.12  *

Results:Sequential Write CPU (Graph)

                                    tolerance = 1.00 + 3.00% of 2.5.72
                2.5.72   2.5.72-mm1
   Theads         %CPU         %CPU    %diff         diff    tolerance
---------- ------------ ------------ -------- ------------ ------------
        1       53.32%       51.76%    -2.93        -1.56         2.60
       16       119.6%       86.11%   -28.00       -33.49         4.59  *
       64       37.23%       25.05%   -32.72       -12.18         2.12  *