From a press release:

WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP
Testing – Kyalami (South Africa) – Day 3
Thursday 6th December 2001

BOSTROM (DUCATI L&M) CONCLUDES POSITIVE THREE-DAY TEST IN SOUTH AFRICA

Ducati L&M’s Ben Bostrom has concluded a three-day official Dunlop tyre test at the Kyalami circuit near Johannesburg, South Africa, the venue for the third round of the 2002 World Superbike Championship.

The 27-year-old Californian, winner in Kyalami at the start of this year, tested from Tuesday to Thursday at the 4.263 km circuit, recording a quickest time of 1:42.14 on the first day.

Bostrom, third overall in this year’s championship, was testing the brand-new Ducati 996R Factory ’02 bike and completed 45 laps today, recording a best time of 1:42.48 and taking his three-day total up to 168 laps.

Conditions on the final day were scorching hot, with temperatures up to 34° C (air) and 48° C (track), but rain began to fall at around 3:00 pm, bringing the test to an end.

“After we finished our tyre programme, we wanted to do something with the set-up, but it started to rain and we had to stop early today”, said Bostrom. “The three-day test went really well and we learnt a lot for the race here in April. The tyre we found was great, much better than the one we ran last year, when I won, so things are looking good. I’m really happy with the new bike and with the time I recorded on Tuesday, but I wanted to do my fastest lap on a Q-tyre and we never really had a chance to run one. As for my shoulder, I still feel a bit tired and sore after doing more than 150 laps in three days but it was great to get back on the bike for the first time since my operation”.

Bostrom immediately left South Africa for Bologna, Italy, where he is scheduled to ride a KTM motocross bike in this weekend’s spectacular Superbikers race.