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