During an historic age of big personalities, Ben Bostrom was the most-loved SBK rider. With his good looks, particular riding style and lifestyle, the fans loved the American, who came to Europe to compete for Ducati in the production-derived series, a championship that, back then, was synonymous with fun.
Ben now lives in Las Vegas, Nevada where he is settled with his family and, as he himself states: "Today I’m a professional dad, and it makes me happy. Between one cartoon and the next, I watch the races on TV. I think the championships are still hard fought”. And he would know, seeing as he now commentates on them for leading American channels.
When he’s not cycling, the former rider recalls his battles with the likes of Bayliss, Haga, Corser, Hodgson, Edwards, Toseland, Fogarty, Yanagawa, Okada, Chili, Crafar, Lavilla, Slight. To name but a few. Leaving the US wasn’t painful for him, but it was challenging. BB soon got used to European ways though.
The AMA title with Honda and the triumphant wildcard with Ducati
HRC wanted just one thing, to conquer America. So management basically said to Ben: "Listen, you have to get the RC45 over the line, always. Don’t take any risks. The important thing is the number 1 at the end". And so it was that “soldier Ben” got the job done, securing the 1998 AMA title without ever actually winning a race.
Who cares, he thought. I’m going to Ducati anyway. Who cares about the Laguna podium with Honda, it would be better to win as a wildcard. And so he did. Bostrom wore Vance & Hines colours, sharing the garage with a certain Anthony Gobert.
How did the wildcard race go? Great. Second and first place. The King of the Corkscrew was able to pass his rivals right and left, in braking and acceleration. Back in Borgo Panigale they said: "Get him to come to Europe” and he took the first flight to Bologna.
A tough start and the Caracchi ‘hijacking’
Ben had a lot to learn when he debuted in WorldSBK, from the environment to the bike, the tyres and the tracks. And his rivals. What rivals they were! Carl Fogarty was a tough team-mate, but the King then sustained an injury at Phillip Island in 2000 and retired from competition.
Number 155 was expected to step into the role of team captain following the Brit’s abdication, but it proved to be too much responsibility. Juan Borja was called up to the factory Infostrada team, while Bostrom was transferred to the NCR squad.
This move proved fundamental, because the American soon found himself back at the sharp end, scoring podiums and playing a starring role in the races. Ducati continued to believe in him and put together the L&M team, with which BB raced for two full seasons at the peak of his career
An exceptional 2001, 2002 troubles, the 2005 Honda interlude, and MotoGP
With six wins and three podiums to his name, BB finished fourth overall in the 2001 SBK championship, riding a Dunlop-shod Ducati for team L&M. After a win at the tricky Kyalami track, further success came at Misano and Brands Hatch, his series of wins projecting him well up the standings.
Yet problems arrived the following year. Ben later returned, in 2005, with the team Renegade Honda, but the bike proved far from competitive. He had fun anyway and the public loved him more than ever.
His seasons in the AMA championship went very well, so much so that he received a call from MotoGP. Or rather Lucio Cecchinello. Ben got to ride the Honda RC 212V at his home track of Laguna Seca, and despite a DNF, he enjoyed the experience, although he did point out that: “To be quick, you need to use a lot of electronic controls. I don’t like that, I prefer to rely on my right wrist”.
Translated by Heather Watson
Whatever happened to: Troy Corser