Ben Bostrom to ride MotoGP @ Laguna

[Mother Goose]

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/171350/1/ben_bostrom_gets_motogp_chance_with_lcr_honda.html

[Sean]

:rock:

This should be fun to watch. I'll predict 10 place.

[Mother Goose]

I think he'll finish better than Elias.

[Sean]

I think he'll finish better than Elias.I think you're right! :up:

(That shouldn't be to hard to accomplish)

[Ted]

So he going to be on an H machine,
but i still think he'll finish better than the GSV-R ... (what's his name again) .... the guy with the hottest paddock chicks...

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

:rock:

This should be fun to watch. I'll predict 10 place.
I'll take that bet. I'll bet he finishes 14-ish (or worse). Really nice guy, but I've never been really impressed with him I think Eric is actually faster.

[Graphite675]

.... Last place (if he finishes)


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[Ted]

^ Yeah, i watched all practices and qualifying, and its looks like he will end up last today... Goodluck to him though.

[sprtbkbabe]

^ Yeah, i watched all practices and qualifying, and its looks like he will end up last today... Goodluck to him though.

:imwithstupid: Good to see another American out there!

[ian22]

I'm biased as I am a Ben Bostrom fan...but I think its quite impressive that he can jump on a motogp bike and lap just 5 seconds off of the fastest guy in the world. My understanding is this was his first time riding that bike. I can only imagine how much different a gp bike is from his ama superbike.

http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_1107_2011_motogp_laguna_seca_friday_morning_pr actice_resport_results/index.html

[Ted]

I'm biased as I am a Ben Bostrom fan...but I think its quite impressive that he can jump on a motogp bike and lap just 5 seconds off of the fastest guy in the world. My understanding is this was his first time riding that bike. I can only imagine how much different a gp bike is from his ama superbike.

http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_1107_2011_motogp_laguna_seca_friday_morning_pr actice_resport_results/index.html

Looks like Ben, on average, is about half a second faster when on his AMA bike.

[~Barn~]

Because he's so familar with riding there, I think he's unlikely to throw it away, or run off the track. He may not crack the top five or even the top 7, but I don't think a 10th finish is out of the realm.

Laguna is one of those tracks that, because of it's realitively small size, tends to generate true racing and fights for position lap-to-lap. Qualifying times and practice times mean less here than other GP tracks, and as the top couple tiers of riders are battling away at each other, it will only help benefit the marginally slower guys close the gaps. I hope he does well.

[~Barn~]

Or maybe he does run off, who knows....

[Graphite675]

.... Last place (if he finishes)


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Boy, did I call that one. :yes:


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[ian22]

He said he couldn't get the bike into gear.

[Graphite675]

He said he couldn't get the bike into gear.

It was not a mechanical failure of the bike. He said he was having issues shifting and that he probably didn't have the shift lever set at the right hieght.
He then went on to say the bike was fine and more then capable but the rider was not up to the job. So he basically admitted he bit off more then he could chew.
Honestly I think he just wanted to get off the track and get out of everyone's way.
Those wildcard rides rarely work out for anyone.


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[spideyrdr]

Possible Spoiler below (adding this since the title didn't mention it)
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Technically he finished ahead of Simoncelli. :up:

What a humble dude. He was so grateful for the opportunity to ride. You could tell he was just so excited and glad to do it. Wanted to see him finish, sure, but even the veteran riders were getting lapped early on due to it being a short track, and Ben was aware he would be in the way eventually.

What a dream come true it must have Ben! (sic)

[Pharmgirl]

He was also running faster times than Elias....

[thaitanic]

BB is a great guy. humble, down to earth his best days are behind him. he remind me of Nori haga

[The Black Knight]

Check out this article excerpt from cyclenews.com by Wayne Gardner:
http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2011/07/25/wayne-s-world-casey-rolls-on/

NOW I'VE HEARD IT ALL
I couldn't believe it when U.S. wild card rider Ben Bostrom decided to pull out of the race because he felt his LCR Honda was too good for him. Even worse was the fact he cited the importance of some Superbike race he was scheduled to take part in after the GP as playing a part in his decision. What an absolute disgrace. And what an absolute waste of time and money for the LCR team and its sponsors. The chance to take part in any MotoGP is an honor for anybody lucky enough to be offered the opportunity. It's what so many riders give everything to try and achieve. It's the pinnacle of motorcycle road racing. Most never get there. For Ben to just give up and take the easy option because he was looking a bit ordinary is about the poorest display I've ever seen.

True, the bloke was never going to set the world on fire and, really, I can't understand why he was given the chance in the first place. He's done nothing for over 10 years and nothing to deserve the shot he got at the weekend. Yes, he was woefully off the pace in practice and had run off track a few times in the race. But so what! Rather than moan about his lack of talent, the least he could have done was to finish the race at a pace he was comfortable with. What wasn't acceptable was the half-arsed effort he decided to put in. It did nothing for the event and only served to cheapen the whole ideal of MotoGP.

All I can say, is SSLLLAAMMMM! Man, he didn't hold back on old Ben. I will say, that was disappointing to watch Ben pull out of the race. I agree with what others here have said. Bit off more than he could chew.