By Glenn LeSanto

Bostrom on pole and in fourth!

Ben Bostrom held onto his pole position despite pressure from Britain’s Neil Hodgson in an exciting Superpole at Laguna Seca today. Riding at his home round of the World Superbike Championship Bostrom put on a show for the fans, just beating Hodgson by nearly two tenths of a second. Australian Troy Corser qualified third on the Aprilia. The other Bostrom brother, Eric, made fourth to complete the front row. Troy Bayliss, who had qualified in provisional second spot, slipped back to fifth.

After Superpole in one of the most light-hearted press conferences of the season so far, Ben Bostrom thanked the home crowd for their support. “When I made my first lap here this weekend I saw an American flag up on the entrance to Corkscrew, and I’ve been seeing it every lap, it really motivates me,” explained Bostrom. “I’ve been using it as a brake marker but if they start moving it I’m really in trouble.” At which point Troy Corser quipped, “I’ll have to get up there and move it on then.”

Hodgson also commented on the American spectators. “They’re great, they are all so enthusiastic,” smiled Hodgson. “They make me laugh, they’re all coming up to me and saying stuff like ‘hey, you’re really ripping it up, man’. The problem is, I’m never really sure if they are complimenting me or not.”

Bostrom is confident for the race on Sunday, but he’ll have his work cut out. “I have to win,” he said when asked if it was important to him to win at his home round. Corser was also confident, saying “Things have been working really well here, tires, chassis and engine, they’re all really good. I’ve done race distant on the tires during qualifying without problem. But the competition is tough. Ben and Neil are really motivated and so is Eric Bostrom.”

The Superbike races are scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. local time.

Superpole Times

1. Ben Bostrom, Ducati, USA, 1:25.704
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, Great Britain, 1:25.863
3. Troy Corser, Aprilia, Australia, 1:25.866
4. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, USA, 1:26.120
5. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, Australia, 1:26.242
6. Colin Edwards, Honda, USA, 1:26.274
7. James Toseland, Ducati, Great Britain, 1:26.762
8. Pierfrancesco Chili, Suzuki, Italy, 1:26.818
9. Tady Okada, Honda, USA, 1:27.045
10. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki, USA, 1:27.061
11. Akira Yanagawa, Kawasaki, Japan, 1:27.203
12. Regis Laconi, Aprilia, France, 1:27.281
13. Stephan Chambon, Suzuki, France, 1:27.400
14. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, Spain, 1:27.574
15. Steve Martin, Ducati, Australia, 1:27.591
16. Gregorio Lavilla, Kawasaki, Spain, 1:27.766


Final World Superbike Qualifying Results Following Super Pole:

(Final Position, Rider, Manufacturer, Original Qualifying Time & Position, Super Pole Time)

1. Ben Bostrom, Ducati, 1:25.248 (1), 1:25.705
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, 1:26.163 (7), 1:25.863
3. Troy Corser, Aprilia, 1:25.749 (4), 1:25.866
4. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, 1:25.556 (3), 1:26.120
5. Troy Bayliss, Ducati, 1:25.435 (2), 1:26.242
6. Colin Edwards II, Honda, 1:26.112 (6), 1:26.274
7. James Toseland, Ducati, 1:26.598 (10), 1:26.762
8. Pierfrancesco Chili, Suzuki, 1:26.514 (9), 1:26.818
9. Tadayuki Okada, Honda, 1:26.455 (8), 1:27.045
10. Doug Chandler, Kawasaki, 1:25.907 (5), 1:27.061
11. Akira Yanagawa, Kawasaki, 1:26.784 (14), 1:27.203
12. Regis Laconi, Aprilia, 1:26.605 (11), 1:27.281
13. Stephane Chambon, Suzuki, 1:26.706 (12), 1:27.400
14. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 1:26.753 (13), 1:27.574
15. Steve Martin, Ducati, 1:26.867(15), 1:27.591
16. Gregorio Lavilla, Kawasaki, 1:26.901 (16), 1:27.766
17. Robert Ulm, Ducati, 1:26.902
18. Mauro Sanchini, Ducati, 1:27.056
19. Marco Borciani, Ducati, 1:27.191
20. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, 1:27.192
21. Peter Goddard, Benelli, 1:27.200
22. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati, 1:27.274
23. Michele Malatesta, Kawasaki, 1:27.832
24. Broc Parkes, Ducati, 1:27.943
25. Bertrand Stey, Honda, 1:28.053
26. Martin Craggill, Ducati, 1:28.279
27. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati, 1:30.292
28. Ferdinando Di Maso, Kawasaki, 1:30.743
29. Javier Rodriguez, Honda, 1:30.774