When Ben Bostrom “did the double” at Brands Hatch in the 2001 WSB series, while Neil Hodgson finished second in both races, he cemented his fifth straight WSB victory (he had a total of 6 that year) and appeared on his way to breaking the WSB record for consecutive wins.
After taking third in the 2001 WSB championship, it was all downhill for Ben Bostrom, unfortunately. The magic was gone, and never seemed to return. Mediocre (or worse) years in WSB and in the AMA Superbike series (with Honda) erased the Ben Bostrom mystique.
Ducati wants him back on a 999 next year in the AMA Superbike series, and has signed him to team with Neil Hodgson in the U.S. Bostrom is obviously very familiar with the U.S. tracks (he is a former AMA Superbike champion for Honda), but the 999 has proven more difficult to set up for some riders than the 916-based chassis Bostrom raced previously for Ducati.
Regardless of the outcome, Ben Bostrom’s return to AMA Superbike on a Ducati 999 as Neil Hodgson’s teammate next year, along with the return of Kawasaki to the AMA Superbike series, will certainly add to the interest and excitement.
