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Bostrom Back With American Honda ?

I think Ben is getting a bad rap....yeah I think he goes into those confidence funks, but WSBK Dunlop riders have been riding behind Michelin riders all year long. Their tires have just been inferior compared to Michelins, I think Tomada is the only racer to win on Dunlops and I think he won that race because thats his home track. Last year the Aprilia bike could have won the championship, but Corser kept complaining about the Dunlops, the team and tire company didn't believe him, so they dumped him for Haga. This year Haga hasn't done any better on Dunlops and he's constantly complaining about the tires too. As for Hodgson, I don't think his season is any better than any of the other Dunlop riders....He's about 40 points ahead of Haga/Bostrom, but 200 behind Bayliss/Edwards who are on Michelins.
 
didn't b bostrom get busted down mid year after having problems on the michelins?? two years ago if I remember correctly. this year it kindof sucks cuz hodgson is on the same equipment and tires, in fact bostrom has the narrow head 998 and hodgson doesn't if I'm not mistaken. Myself I think it just shows that "what have you done for me lately?" type of mentality. If it happens it's good news for american honda but also kindof confirms hayden will be gone, but where?? silly season is just getting started it seems.:cool
 
Yeah, Ben got moved to the satellite NCR team 2 years ago. He couldn't get used to Michelins on the factory bike. When he switched to the NCR team, they gave hiim Dunlops and he started getting better results. But at that time, Dunlops were king and Michelins were playing catch-up. It's been the reverse this year. I read somewhere that Michelin upgraded their manufacturing process which enabled them to develop a much more consistent tire with softer rubber, thus better grip with less fade. Dunlop is now playing catch-up.

I also agree with Holeshot....there's a lot of politics in WSBK. I think the teams want Spanish riders because they bring in more sponsorship money.
 
Very interesting thread people. Mind if I chime in.

The L&M bike that BBoz is on is a factory Corse A bike. The only difference is that Ben runs dunlops (and the paint scheme and sponsorship).

I like BBoz a lot, but his brother seems to be a bit more talented. Eric won his first race before Ben even though Ben took the title that year. But when Ben did finally win his first race he did it against the world (Foggy, Colin, Corser, etc.). This was the main reason he got the seat for Ducati.
If a rider can be on a "funk", I would categorize Ben as being in one right now. He has a better bike, but his times aren't as good as last years, especially in the tracks he dominated on to get his 5 in a row.
Neil Hodgson has really stepped it up the past few years, but it wasn't long ago that he was in the same position as Ben. After Neil got bumped out of Kawasaki, he barely landed a seat for GSE. Now look at him go.

As for Xaus, he crashes.......a lot. But, don't you guys remember Haga-san leaving a trail of busted up R7's what seemed like every other race. Watching Haga either putting it on the box or the crash truck was exciting. Now these guys are on the same team. I think that's great! I guess since they're teammates, we won't see Xaus running into the back of Haga anymore.

Now to address the politics in WSB (and in professional racing in general). Holeshot nailed that thing on the head. A lot of politics. When Foggy was with Ducati, he basically ran the show and picked and chose his mates.....and how do you boot Corser out of Ducati after a great season. Politics, Politics, Politics.
Example: If I decided to try and make a snow angel in the middle of the track in the middle of the race would I be penalized the same as Aaron Yates.......Hell no! I would've been castrated.

I think Ben will do fine wherever he lands.
Part of me wants Eric to go to WSB, but I would love for him to have won a superbike title for team green.

Just thinking out loud!
Later,
Ron
 
Great post Ron.

I think something many people are missing, and something that is easily learned from the backwards assed (as you guys like to think) NASCAR is that of similar equipment and a substandard team. Ben may have the best stuff, but he clearly does not have the best team. Watching him work the bike, it's obvious the Ducati is not working as it was last year.

THAT is the team's issue. Not fully Ben's. In Nascar, It's common to see a team with similar equipment have one guy win and one guy place 30th. It's all in the setup, and that is totally arbitrary and up to the team to figure out. Ben may be in a slump, but that's not near the full story. He's just not getting the support he did before, and as I like to think, there's reasons for that. Ben would beat Bayliss all he could, Team/Ducati orders to hell. Xaus would not. Hence, as is my theory, Ducati may give Ben's team the bike, but not the latest setups and configs. It really doesn't have much to do with tires and rider I think.

Ducati is an old Stodgy corporation. It's a shame, but they clearly have picked the 2 guys who will be able to win a race on their teams, and the NCR team is there simply to attempt to mix the points up between anyone else but Ducati's main team.

Ben won 5 in a row and now wins none...come on! Something's fishy in Denmark guys...

Look at all the past results from Ducati's main team and their NCR teams...it's not coincidence that their main guys win and the others don't. And it's not because of the rider.
 
The NCR Team is a Satellite team and will not receive all the factory goodies as the Corse team. That's pretty clear.

Troy Bayliss won the Championship last year, not Ben Bostrom, remember. Ofcourse the focus will be mainly on Troy. It's still up to Bostrom and his engineers to produce the Results. There's no reason for Ben to always be outdone by Hodgson. Xaus is also faster than Ben, when he's not crashing. Haga and Ben are pretty close but Haga did get taken out by Nicky at Laguna and had, I believe, 2 Tech. DNF this year, yet he's right there on points with Bostrom.

Ben needs to go into "win or bin" mode at Imola if he plans to leave a good impression on WSBK for a hopeful return in the future.

On other note, I think Gobert should head the Ducati effort in AMA with the new 999. He would clean house.
 
Ron is right, Ben is on the same equipment as Xaus and Bayliss. Just different sponsorship and tires. it's a full factory effort, he's not on the satellite NCR time like Chili. BBoz was on that 2 years ago.

Holeshot is right though, maybe his crew is just not getting the set-up right. Even though his bike might be more powerful than Hodgson, Set-up and chasis can equalize any HP deficiencies. Just look at his brother on the kawi this year.

Bostrom will be fine where ever he lands. Xaus should be a good fit on Aprilia. Haga should be really good next year if they ever figure out how to set-up the bike.
 
Some good feedback...You guys no your shiznit! :thumbup

Enjoyed the read!

:smoking
 
Okay, my mistake. I kept thinking this was Hodgson's first year but it isn't. Regardless, he IS doing much better and seems faster and more consistent than B. Boz this year, no?

I know there are politics in racing. Edwards said it not long ago that he should be partnered w/Nicky Hayden but that would NEVER happen cuz they're both American riders. Okay, I understand that, business is business.

AGAIN, I think Bostrom is a brilliant rider and he showed that by winning 5 in a row LAST YEAR. I hate to say it but it looks like Hodgson and even Haga have been "showing" better than Bostrom this year. Haga has done well on his first year on the Aprilia as well...not as good as Corser but well for a rider adapting to the twin (at least Corser was riding the Ducati for a while prior to the Aprilia).

I'd still love to see B. Bostrom back on the podium again and to be consistently up there instead of Hodgson...I just don't care for that guy...probably cuz he's outriding Ben on the same or lesser bike.
 
Boz rules!

And now that she is available ... Open season on duck chicks!!!

(Bud, im gonna need to borrow yer bike errr bait)


Webbles
 
Have to go with Holeshot on this one. If your team isn't on the same page as you, your results will show.....hence no wins.
In NCR, he brought over his crew chief from the states which resulted in some pretty good finishes in Ducati's "B" bike. Besides trying to dial everything in, he has to also try and communicate with his tech's that don't speak english.

Hodgson has been with NCR for several years all the way back when he was dicing it out at the British SB circuit. Same crew, same techs and familiarity with the tracks. He's been on the WSB circuit in the past, now he has a solid team to go to war with him. Hodgson finally has matured and screwed his head on straight and now he rocks.....on last years bike mind you!
He was poised to be on the Corse "A" Team. He's British and a "perfect" (in the eyes of Ducati) fit.

But then again all riders are different. Look at EBoz and the miracle he almost pulled. Everyone leaves him at the beginning of the year just before Daytona. He gets a new crew and just could not get the Green Machine dialed in. Then all of a sudden he goes abroad for a few races and everything starts coming together like magic. Almost takes the AMA Sup Title and is placing in the top 10 in European tracks he's never ridden on before against the best on a bike considered a dinosaur. Why, because his team finally got on the same page as him......and also cuz he's an awesome rider.

How fun was it last year at Laguna watching the Bostrom's just rock and roll the whole weekend. Don't think that can ever be topped.

Now let's sit back and enjoy the Last Round of WSB. That's where all the fun is gonna be in the next few weeks. Even though I like Ducati and Bayliss, gotta root for The Texas Tornado. USA, USA, USA!!!
Just think, Colin could take the title away from his ride for next year. So does this mean he could possibly be putting the "1" plate on a duc............like Ben did when he left honda for V&H Duc??? interesting.

Ron
 
Webbles said:
Boz rules!

And now that she is available ... Open season on duck chicks!!!

(Bud, im gonna need to borrow yer bike errr bait)


Webbles
Click to expand...

Your not the only one asking...:laughing

I'll start a rental fleet..."HURTS" Ducati rentals just because it HURTS if she does not look.

I am sure this will work :toothless

:smoking
 
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