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