How do you go from a packing crate to the day’s quickest lap at Daytona, with a spanking new machine? Apparently, you work for the Honda AMA superbike squad, build yourself a new CBR1000RR superbike, and put Ben Bostrom in the saddle. That is exactly what happened today when Dunlop opened its annual tire testing at the speedway.
Ben Bostrom gushed about his new ride, stating “I’ve never smiled so much on a roadrace bike before . . . I don’t want to stop riding the thing.”
Two things to note here. First of all, our speculation that Honda may have worked extra hard to create an excellent superbike platform in the production CBR1000RR appears to be accurate. Second, Honda may be abandoning the RC51 in superbike racing. Reportedly, a lone CBR1000RR superbike resided in the Honda pit, with no RC51 in sight.
By the way, second quickest on the day was Suzuki’s Mat Mladin, half a second back behind Bostrom. Tire testing continues tomorrow.
