Ben Bostrom’s recent practice laps on the same track visited by the 500 GP two-stroke stars this week prove a point I think the manufacturers already know. The four-strokes will be the bikes to beat in 500 GP racing in 2002.
Riding a v-twin Ducati superbike, that is far heavier than the rules would permit a prototype v-twin four-stroke to be in 2002 in the 500 GP class, Bostrom bettered virtually every 500 GP stars’ lap time (with the lone exception of Kenny Roberts, Jr.).
With more power coming from the 990cc prototype that will race in the 2002 season, and lighter weight, the two-strokes don’t stand a chance. I believe the manufacturers realize this, and that is why Honda and Yamaha (and probably Kawasaki and Suzuki, as well as others), are so far along in their development cycle for their four-stroke GP bikes. It could spell the end of the entire 500cc two-stroke era.
