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 The
Eclectic Biker: October 2003 |
by John
Inama
Associate Editor
Beginner Bikes Magazine
| Racing
Wrap-Up |
Racing Wrap-Up: Mladin takes record fourth AMA Superbike championship
Australian Mat Mladin wrapped up a dominant AMA Superbike season
with two conservative races at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama
to wrap up his record fourth championship.
Mladin took fourth and second in the two races, both positions handed
to him as a result of other riders' misfortune -- Ducati Austin
rider Giovanni Bussei ran off the track in front of Mladin in race
1, and factory Honda teammates Ben Bostrom and Miguel Duhamel took
each other out battling traffic while in second and third place
in race 2.
It was an uncharacteristic finish for Mladin, who dominated the
season on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. Teammate Aaron Yates took second
in the championship, giving Team Yoshimura Suzuki a 1-2 sweep and
relegating mighty Honda to second-class citizen.
The v-Twin RC51s -- fresh off two 2002 championships thanks to Nicky
Hayden and Colin Edwards -- proved to be no match for the Gixxers.
Kurtis Roberts took two victories -- one at Virginia International
Raceway, his first ever Superbike win, and the last race at Barber,
although a hard-charging Mladin may have changed things in the final
round.
Mladin also proved his world-class talent by storming to Superpole
as a wild-card rider in the World Superbike round at Laguna Seca.
Although he would fade during the race -- no match for factory Ducati
999 power -- he proved his standing as the best rider in America,
and lost one of his main competitors in the process.
Eric Bostrom, riding a remarkable season on the outclassed, underpowered
Kawasaki ZX-7R, was taken out by fellow wild-card rider Yates in
the first turn of the first World Superbike race. Yates charged
turn one and went in too tight, losing the front wheel and sliding
across the crowded track, taking out WSB rider Pierfranciso Chili
and Bostrom, who fell awkwardly and separated his shoulder, ending
his AMA season. It was a double disappointment for Bostrom, who
not only was in championship contention but was looking to prove
his worth on the world circuit, possibly as a try-out for 2004.
Despite giving up 250cc to the competition, Bostrom was in the points
lead after wins at Pikes Peak and Elkhart Lake and a strong fourth
at Brainerd. Bostrom looked more like Mladin a few years ago, who
took his GSX-R750 to a championship over the 1000cc RC51s. Eric
still ended the season in sixth place, despite not racing past the
seventh round.
The year was a disappointment for the factory Honda team. Duhamel,
always strong, never repeated his Daytona 200 win and ended the
season in fifth place. Ben Bostrom never found the form he showed
in World Superbike aboard the Ducati 998. After setting pole at
Daytona and coming in second behind his teammate, he never placed
higher than third and was outclassed by Roberts. He was never able
to adapt to the Honda and couldn't put on the performance many expected
of him, although consistent finishes put him ahead of Duhamel in
the championship.
Roberts was the lone bright spot in the Honda camp. Riding for the
'secondary' Erion Racing Team (but with full factory support), he
overcame his reputation for crashing with a solid performance, riding
his two late-season victories to third place in the championship
behind the factory Suzukis.
Another bright spot was Bussei, who filled in after Ducati Austin
fired the temperamental Anthony Gobert, a man with as much talent
as attitude. Gobert, who seems to burn bridges and anger team managers
wherever he goes, was released from his contract after Elkhart Lake.
Bussei was riding a rather non-competitive Yamaha R1 in World Superbike
at the time, and welcomed the chance to ride the Ducati. Despite
riding two fewer races than his predecessor, he managed to outscore
Gobert by 55 points and four places.
All was not rosy for Bussei, however. In what was surely the most
embarrassing moment of the 2003 season, he mistook the white flag
for the checkered flag at VIR while running a hard-fought second
place, letting up on the throttle and pumping his fists in triumph.
By the time he realized what happened, Duhamel and Bostrom rode
by on their Hondas, dropping Bussei down to fifth and off the podium.
The Italian finally got his podium in the last race of the season,
albeit helped by Mladin's conservative pace and Bostrom's take-out
of himself and Duhamel.
Rumors and Assorted Silliness
Much has been speculated about 2004 as Silly Season takes center
stage, but one thing is for sure: Mat Mladin will ride for Yoshimura
Suzuki. The Australian signed a contract with the team through the
2005 season.
Aaron Yates may wind up in World Superbike. Although Suzuki would
have loved to have had Mladin, Yates is a pretty good consolation
prize. Sure, he may have wiped out a chunk of the field in the first
WSB race at Laguna Seca, but he equated himself well in the second
race, contending for a podium position until crashing out with 4
laps to go. Although he may be back with his old team next year,
don't be surprised to see him riding a yellow Corona Suzuki next
to Gregorio Lavilla next season.
Kurtis Roberts has made his desire to race in Europe next year well
known. Chances are he'll be riding in MotoGP for his legendary father
Kenny's Team KR on the Proton KR5. If not, he will be back on the
Erion Honda.
And what of Eric Bostrom? Many speculate he'll be riding for Kawasaki
in MotoGP, but unless they can turn that train-wreck around, he'll
most likely be back in AMA on the brand-new ZX-10R. It's doubtful
he'll pass up a ride on a (finally) competitive Kawasaki Superbike
for one on a non-competitive Kawasaki GP bike. Of course, another
manufacturer may snap him up -- perhaps Ducati's replacement for
Hodgson in WSB? Or maybe on a Kawasaki effort in WSB? Smart money
would put him back in AMA on a ZX-10R.
Ducati may enter a factory effort in AMA Superbike next year, a
welcome sight. That would change the whole makeup of the class.
Would Ben Bostrom leave Honda for a Ducati better suited to his
riding style? Would Giovanni Bussei, who already said he intends
to go back to Europe next season, be tempted to stay with a factory
ride? Hard to say at this point.
Honda will be bringing the all-new CBR1000RR to the party next year,
right? Maybe not. The new rule changes agreed on by AMA and FGSport
(who oversee World Superbike) may favor twins over inline-4s. Knowing
Honda, look to have them test both the CBR and the RC51 in the off
season, start the season with the new bike, but have the old RC51s
ready, just in case.
Yamaha's new R1 looks to be a GSX-R fighter, too, but despite success
at the Supersport level, Yamaha hasn't had a Superbike effort for
a while. I'd be surprised to see factory Yamahas at either AMA or
World Superbike levels, but if they do, look for current Supersport
riders Damon Buckmaster and Jamie Hacking to make the move with
them.
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