By Glenn Le Santo

Ben Bostrom won both races at Laguna Seca to make it three straight wins in the Superbike World Championship. In perfect display of racecraft, Bostrom led the second race from start to finish and kept a hard-charging Troy Corser at bay during the closing stages. Corser attacked Bostrom after getting past Colin Edwards and Neil Hodgson but Bostrom kept his eye on his pit board and kept up the gap constant at around 3 seconds.

“Ben was reading his board like a smart guy and he put in some quick laps when I tried to catch him,” explained Corser. “I pushed hard, but not hard enough to crash.”

Neil Hodgson fought off a determined challenge from Colin Edwards to hold onto third place, meaning the podium for the second race had the same three riders as the podium for race one. And again it was a sweep for V-Twins on Dunlop tires. “My race didn’t go according to plan, which was to hang onto Ben,” said reigning British Superbike Champion Hodgson. “Then I got caught up in a big dice with Troy Corser and Colin Edwards and we lost touch with Bostrom. It was a great dice, really enjoyable but I think I burnt the tire up a little in it.”

Troy Bayliss finished in fourth, with Eric Bostrom fifth and Edwards sixth. The result means that Troy Corser is still third in the title but has closed the points gap to 61 as the Superbikes prepare to go to the next round at Brands Hatch in England on July 29th.

World Superbike Race Two Results From Laguna Seca:

1. Ben Bostrom, Ducati
2. Troy Corser, Aprilia
3. Neil Hodgson, Ducati
4. Troy Bayliss, Ducati
5. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki
6. Colin Edwards II, Honda
7. James Toseland, Ducati
8. Akira Yanagawa, Kawasaki
9. Regis Laconi, Aprilia
10. Ruben Xaus, Ducati
11. Tadayuki Okada, Honda
12. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki
13. Steve Martin, Ducati
14. Broc Parkes, Ducati
15. Peter Goddard, Benelli
16. Robert Ulm, Ducati
17. Marco Borciani, Ducati
18. Mauro Sanchini, Ducati
19. Martin Craggill, Ducati
20. Bertrand Stey, Honda

Giovanni Bussei, Ducati, DNF, crash, 27 laps
Doug Chandler, Kawasaki, DNF, retired, 9 laps
Gregorio Lavilla, Kawasaki, DNF, crash, 6 laps
Pierfrancesco Chili, Suzuki, DNF, retired, 1 lap
Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, DNF, retired, 0 laps

Kawasaki’s Doug Chandler received a stop & go penalty for jumping the start and then pulled in.

Goddard’s 15th place gives the Benelli Tornado its first World Championship point.

Superbike World Championship Point Standings After Race Two At Laguna Seca:

1. Bayliss, 276 points
2. Edwards, 223 points
3. Corser, 215 points
4. Ben Bostrom, 197 points
5. Hodgson, 177 points
6. Chili, 153 points
7. Lavilla, 120 points
8. Yanagawa, 118 points
9. Okada, 113 points
10. Xaus, 92 points

Final 250cc Grand Prix Results From Donington Park:

1. Daijiro Katoh, Honda, 42:46.466
2. Roberto Rolfo, Aprilia, 42:56.639
3. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 42:56.867
4. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, 43:11.566
5. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 43:33.134
6. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 43:37.596
7. Sylvain Guintoli, Aprilia, 43:38.392
8. Alex Debon, Aprilia, 43:38.957
9. Alex Hofmann, Aprilia, 43:40.263
10. Shahrol Yuzy, Yamaha, 43:44.450

22. Jason DiSalvo, Honda, 43:31.853 –1 lap
23. Katja Poensgen, Aprilia, 43:32.889 –1 lap

DNF, crash, Jeremy McWilliams, Aprilia

By Glenn Le Santo

Ben Bostrom recovered from a poor start to storm to the front of his home round of the Superbike World Championship in Laguna Seca. Bostrom carved through the field on his Ducati L&M machine from sixth place on lap one to chase holeshot man Neil Hodgson. Troy Corser had been holding second but was unable to close on Hodgson. Bostrom blasted past Corser’s Aprilia on lap 19 of the 28-lap race and set off after race leader Hodgson.
Despite scoring the fastest lap of the race Corser was unable to follow Bostrom through when he caught and passed GSE Ducati’s Hodgson. British Superbike Champion Hodgson hadn’t put a wheel wrong all race but when Bostrom caught him and piled on the pressure Hodgson strayed off the racing line in the Corkscrew on lap 21. That was all Bostrom needed and he slipped up the inside to disappear for his third race win of the season.

After the race the home crowd cheered Ben Bostrom as he took his place on the top of the winner’s podium. Hodgson was light-hearted despite his
defeat. “I hadn’t planned to lead the race,” said Hodgson. “My plan was to follow Bostrom and pass him on the last lap. When I found myself in the lead at the end of lap one my plan went out of the window. I got a good lead early on but then saw ‘BOS’ on my board and thought – oh no, not again!”

When asked if he planned to make any changes for race two Hodgson quipped, “I’ve asked my mechanics to fit a bigger engine!” Bostrom joined in the fun and replied, “I’m making the same change as Neil for race two!”

Championship leader Troy Bayliss finished the race in fourth place, with World Champion COlin Edwards back in sixth after running off the track going into the Corkscrew. As a result Corser was able to close the gap on the pair who lie first and second in the Championship points.
Final Results From World Superbike Race One At Laguna Seca:

1. Ben Bostrom, Ducati
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati
3. Troy Corser, Aprilia
4. Troy Bayliss, Ducati
5. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki
6. Colin Edwards II, Honda
7. Ruben Xaus, Ducati
8. Tadayuki Okada, Honda
9. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki
10. James Toseland, Ducati
11. Regis Laconi, Aprilia
12. Gregorio Lavilla, Kawasaki
13. Broc Parkes, Ducati
14. Steve Martin, Ducati
15. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati
16. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati
17. Robert Ulm, Ducati
18. Peter Goddard, Benelli
19. Mauro Sanchini, Ducati
20. Marco Borciani, Ducati

22. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki, DNF, 17 laps

26. Akira Yanagawa, Kawasaki, DNF, crash, 2 laps
27. Pierfrancesco Chili, Suzuki, DNF, crash, 2 laps

Margin of Victory: 1.337 seconds

Fastest Lap: Corser, 1:26.144, lap 15


Unofficial World Championship Superbike Point Standings After Race One At Laguna Seca:

1. Bayliss, 263 points
2. Edwards, 213 points
3. Corser, 195 points
4. Ben Bostrom, 172 points
5. Hodgson, 161 points
6. Chili, 153 points
7. Lavilla, 120 points
8. Yanagawa, 110 points
9. Okada, 108 points
10. Xaus, 86 points

By Glenn LeSanto

Bostrom on pole and in fourth!

Ben Bostrom held onto his pole position despite pressure from Britain’s Neil Hodgson in an exciting Superpole at Laguna Seca today. Riding at his home round of the World Superbike Championship Bostrom put on a show for the fans, just beating Hodgson by nearly two tenths of a second. Australian Troy Corser qualified third on the Aprilia. The other Bostrom brother, Eric, made fourth to complete the front row. Troy Bayliss, who had qualified in provisional second spot, slipped back to fifth.

After Superpole in one of the most light-hearted press conferences of the season so far, Ben Bostrom thanked the home crowd for their support. “When I made my first lap here this weekend I saw an American flag up on the entrance to Corkscrew, and I’ve been seeing it every lap, it really motivates me,” explained Bostrom. “I’ve been using it as a brake marker but if they start moving it I’m really in trouble.” At which point Troy Corser quipped, “I’ll have to get up there and move it on then.”

Hodgson also commented on the American spectators. “They’re great, they are all so enthusiastic,” smiled Hodgson. “They make me laugh, they’re all coming up to me and saying stuff like ‘hey, you’re really ripping it up, man’. The problem is, I’m never really sure if they are complimenting me or not.”

Bostrom is confident for the race on Sunday, but he’ll have his work cut out. “I have to win,” he said when asked if it was important to him to win at his home round. Corser was also confident, saying “Things have been working really well here, tires, chassis and engine, they’re all really good. I’ve done race distant on the tires during qualifying without problem. But the competition is tough. Ben and Neil are really motivated and so is Eric Bostrom.”

The Superbike races are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. local time.

Superpole Times

1. Ben Bostrom, Ducati, USA, 1:25.704
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, Great Britain, 1:25.863
3. Troy Corser, Aprilia, Australia, 1:25.866
4. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, USA, 1:26.120
5. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, Australia, 1:26.242
6. Colin Edwards, Honda, USA, 1:26.274
7. James Toseland, Ducati, Great Britain, 1:26.762
8. Pierfrancesco Chili, Suzuki, Italy, 1:26.818
9. Tady Okada, Honda, USA, 1:27.045
10. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki, USA, 1:27.061
11. Akira Yanagawa, Kawasaki, Japan, 1:27.203
12. Regis Laconi, Aprilia, France, 1:27.281
13. Stephan Chambon, Suzuki, France, 1:27.400
14. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, Spain, 1:27.574
15. Steve Martin, Ducati, Australia, 1:27.591
16. Gregorio Lavilla, Kawasaki, Spain, 1:27.766


Final World Superbike Qualifying Results Following Super Pole:

(Final Position, Rider, Manufacturer, Original Qualifying Time & Position, Super Pole Time)

1. Ben Bostrom, Ducati, 1:25.248 (1), 1:25.705
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, 1:26.163 (7), 1:25.863
3. Troy Corser, Aprilia, 1:25.749 (4), 1:25.866
4. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:25.556 (3), 1:26.120
5. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 1:25.435 (2), 1:26.242
6. Colin Edwards II, Honda, 1:26.112 (6), 1:26.274
7. James Toseland, Ducati, 1:26.598 (10), 1:26.762
8. Pierfrancesco Chili, Suzuki, 1:26.514 (9), 1:26.818
9. Tadayuki Okada, Honda, 1:26.455 (8), 1:27.045
10. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki, 1:25.907 (5), 1:27.061
11. Akira Yanagawa, Kawasaki, 1:26.784 (14), 1:27.203
12. Regis Laconi, Aprilia, 1:26.605 (11), 1:27.281
13. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki, 1:26.706 (12), 1:27.400
14. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 1:26.753 (13), 1:27.574
15. Steve Martin, Ducati, 1:26.867(15), 1:27.591
16. Gregorio Lavilla, Kawasaki, 1:26.901 (16), 1:27.766
17. Robert Ulm, Ducati, 1:26.902
18. Mauro Sanchini, Ducati, 1:27.056
19. Marco Borciani, Ducati, 1:27.191
20. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, 1:27.192
21. Peter Goddard, Benelli, 1:27.200
22. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati, 1:27.274
23. Michele Malatesta, Kawasaki, 1:27.832
24. Broc Parkes, Ducati, 1:27.943
25. Bertrand Stey, Honda, 1:28.053
26. Martin Craggill, Ducati, 1:28.279
27. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati, 1:30.292
28. Ferdinando Di Maso, Kawasaki, 1:30.743
29. Javier Rodriguez, Honda, 1:30.774

Saturday 250cc Qualifying Results From Donington Park

1. Tetsuya Harada, Aprilia, 1:33.651
2. Daijiro Katoh, Honda, 1:34.002
3. Marco Melandri, Aprilia, 1:34.108
4. Emilio Alzamora, Honda, 1:34.519
5. Jeremy McWilliams, Aprilia, 1:34.551
6. Naoki Matsudo, Yamaha, 1:34.843
7. Roberto Rolfo, Aprilia, 1:34.843
8. Randy De Puniet, Aprilia, 1:35.365
9. Fonsi Nieto, Aprilia, 1:35.533
10. Sebastian Porto, Yamaha, 1:35.678

27. Jason DiSalvo, Honda, 1:39.022

32. Katja Poensgen, Aprilia, 1:39.503

Aprilia rider Roberto Locatelli crashed on a drying track during Saturday’s final qualifying session and suffered possible injuries to his ankle and shoulder. Locatelli’s time from Friday will still be good for the 13th spot on the grid.

Race #1:

1. Rich Oliver, Yamaha
2. Chuck Sorensen, Yamaha
3. Roland Sands, Yamaha
4. Jimmy Filice, Yamaha
5. Roy De Groot, Yamaha
6. Colin Jensen, Aprilia
7. Ben Walters, Jr., Yamaha
8. Cory West, Yamaha
9. Rocky Wong, Honda
10. Sean Crane, Yamaha

Race #2:

1. Perry Melneciuc, Yamaha
2. Simon Turner, Yamaha
3. Mike Hannas, Yamaha
4. Jeff Leggitt, Honda
5. Andre Castanos, Honda
6. Nick Ienatsch, Yamaha
7. Ed Sorbo, Yamaha
8. Greg Esser, Honda
9. Ty Piz, Yamaha
10. Adrian Webb, Yamaha

Starting Positions For Sunday’s MBNA 250cc Grand Prix Final:

1. Oliver
2. Melneciuc
3. Sorensen
4. Turner
5. Sands
6. Hannas
7. Filice
8. Leggitt
9. De Groot
10. Castanos
11. Jensen
12. Ienatsch
13. Walters
14. Sorbo
15. West
16. Esser
17. Wong
18. Piz
19. Crane
20. Webb

The final 500cc Grand Prix qualifying session at Donington Park was held on a wet, but drying track. No riders were able to improve on their times from Friday’s qualifying session until the closing moments.

Only Norick Abe, Tohru Ukawa, and Shinya Nakano improved their times. Abe did not improve his grid position, but Ukawa improved from 18th to 16th fastest. Nakano’s time was good enough to put him on the front row, fourth fastest, bumping Jurgen van den Goorbergh and the Proton to row two.

Valentino Rossi was on a flying lap as time was running out but was balked by a slower rider in the final corner. Rossi, who crashed in Friday’s qualifying session, will start from the 11th position.

500cc Qualifying Results From Saturday At Donington Park:

1. Shinya Nakano, Yamaha, 1:32.515
2. Alex Barros, Honda, 1:33.071
3. Loris Capirossi, Honda, 1:33.188
4. Kenny Robert, Suzuki, 1:33.307
5. Sete Gibernau, Suzuki, 1:33.599
6. Max Biaggi, Yamaha, 1:33.599
7. Carlos Checa, Yamaha, 1:33.606
8. Norick Abe, Yamaha, 1:33.619
9. Tohru Ukawa, Honda, 1:33.654
10. Valentino Rossi, Honda, 1:33.664
11. Alex Criville, Honda, 1:34.001
12. Jurgen vd Goorbergh, Proton, 1:34.421
13. Chris Walker, Honda, 1:34.683
14. Noriyuki Haga, Yamaha, 1:34.803
15. Jose Luis Cardoso, Yamaha, 1:34.950

Final Practice Times & Number Of Laps Completed:

1. Troy Corser, Aprilia, 1:25.978, 32 laps
2. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 1:26.094, 31 laps
3. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, 1:26.314, 29 laps
4. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki, 1:26.352, 16 laps
5. Colin Edwards II, Honda, 1:26.570, 29 laps
6. Pierfrancesco Chili, Suzuki, 1:26.659, 24 laps
7. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:26.661, 16 laps
8. Ben Bostrom, Ducati, 1:26.755, 22 laps
9. Steve Martin, Ducati, 1:26.855, 29 laps
10. Tadayuki Okada, Honda, 1:26.865, 28 laps
11. Gregorio Lavilla, Kawasaki, 1:26.935, 25 laps
12. James Toseland, Ducati, 1:26.969, 24 laps
13. Akira Yanagawa, Kawasaki, 1:27.067, 32 laps
14. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki, 1:27.195, 22 laps
15. Regis Laconi, Aprilia, 1:27.316, 26 laps
16. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 1:27.322, 22 laps


According to Roadracing World’s World Superbike specialist Glenn Le Santo, the last practice session after timed qualifying and before Super Pole is used mainly for tire testing.

AMA Chevy Trucks Superbike Final Race Results:


1. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki
2. Miguel Duhamel, Honda
3. Mat Mladin, Suzuki
4. Jamie Hacking, Suzuki
5. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki
6. Andreas Meklau, Ducati
7. Steve Rapp, Ducati
8. Tommy Hayden, Yamaha
9. Pascal Picotte, H-D
10. Mike Smith, H-D

26. Nicky Hayden, Honda, 12 laps, DNF, crash
27. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, 11 laps, DNF, crash

30. Larry Pegram, Ducati, 4 laps, DNF

Unofficial AMA Chevy Trucks Superbike Point Standings Following Laguna Seca:

1. Mladin, 260 points
2. Bostrom, 236 points
3. Chandler, 189 points
4. Tommy Hayden, 184 points
5. Duhamel, 168 points

Mladin’s bike suffered a shifting problem. Yates broke his right wrist when he crashed in turn 10.

Immediately following the race, AMA Pro Racing Director of Competition Merrill Vanderslice came on the AMA radio frequency and asked that the top three riders be checked in winner’s circle to ensure that they had the mandatory AMA patch on their leathers. Miguel Duhamel and Mat Mladin did, but Eric Bostrom did not. At post time, no word was available on any penalty assessed Bostrom.