FIRST PERSON/OPINION By John Ulrich All I need to know about the book “The Bostrom Conspiracy” is contained in this passage from pages 278 and 279, because it demonstrates that author Kevin Kurt Lynch (using the pen name J.Y. Johnny based on his nickname, Junk Yard Johnny) has a total lack of understanding of the subject matter and failed to do any meaningful research, and never mind the incorrect punctuation: “Hell where was the owner of the magazine? Why didn’t he step up to buy the ROC when he saw the ad in his magazine. I heard he’s a racer. His son is a racer as well and what club racer wouldn’t love to own a ROC after reading the ad in their own magazine. They or their friends would have been the first ones to call”¦” The classified ad in question appeared in the August 1996 issue of Roadracing World and offered a 1992 ROC-framed, screamer-engined V4 Yamaha YZR500 racebike for $39,500. Apparently I was supposed to buy it for my son, who at the time was a teenager racing a Honda RS125. Or I was supposed to buy it for myself, when I was also racing a Honda RS125–for fun–because I didn’t want to ride any of the really serious GSX-R1100-based racebikes I owned at the time. And apparently I had $39,500 lying around to blow on an obsolete racebike. This is all news to me. But did author Lynch ask me any questions about this before writing his book? No. Instead, he made a leap and an assumption based on faulty reasoning, and used it to bolster a wild conspiracy theory. Which sums up the book. Leaps and assumptions based on faulty reasoning, conspiracy theories and reckless disregard for the truth. A key premise is, no private party should have possession of a ROC Yamaha YZR500, which is an ultra exotic motorcycle that belongs in a museum. Tell it to former 500cc Grand Prix team owner Bob MacLean, who has one in his barn in Wyoming. Peter Clifford, who ran the WCM Yamaha team with MacLean, also has one. Rocky Stargel has one, too, and he only owns an AMA team. As Roadracing World Grand Prix Editor Mat Oxley explains, “They raced them for four or five years, there were quite a few made. I know a mechanic who’s not rich who has one. He’s an ex-GP mechanic. They’re not factory bikes. They weren’t in any way museum pieces.” Beyond that, the book never makes the case to support promotional blurbs seeking to tie Ben and Eric Bostrom to alleged crimes, or linking alleged crimes to the rise of the Bostroms. I was there. I witnessed it as the Bostrom brothers progressed from riding 883 Harley-Davidsons to Supersport bikes to Superbikes in AMA competition, earning rides with professional teams based on their ability to ride motorcycles. The book is printed to order by what used to be called a vanity publisher; it’s a pay to publish scheme where the author of a book nobody else wants to publish, pays to have it published. In this case, it is no wonder nobody wanted to publish it without being paid to do so, because when it comes to motorcycle racing, the book fails even the most cursory reality check. I’m not sure if Lynch, age 44, who lives at 2400 Countryside Dr. in Placerville, California, can keep himself out of court based on the people he’s smearing being public figures or not. But if ever there was a book that deserved to bankrupt its author through long and arduous litigation, this is it. Here’s hoping justice is served. And now, some reader reaction: FIRST PERSON/OPINION Via e-mail: A friend of mine who was in the Grand Prix paddock for many years, later with Racing Radios has a 1996 Yam 500cc GP bike. Harris frame, cf brakes, was raced in GP and at IOM by Nigel Davies I believe #6 finisher that year in one class. His name is Gary Coleman. The bike is is Whitesville GA (pop about 750) in a garage with lots of ex racers wired helmets–Rossi, Barros, Abe, Biaggi and Creville to name a few. The bike has not been ridden since it was bought in the mid 90s. Just thought you’d might like to know about it. Kith Burkingstock Newnan, Georgia