Bombshell: KAWASAKI AND BOSTROM SPLIT

phozed · 11-14-2003, 9:38 AM

Bombshell: KAWASAKI AND BOSTROM SPLIT
by dean adams
Friday, November 14, 2003

This just in from Kawasaki USA:

KAWASAKI TO FOCUS ON SUPERSTOCK AND SUPERSPORT IN 2004

Company releases Eric Bostrom to pursue personal career objectives

IRVINE, Calif. (Nov. 14, 2003)-Bruce Stjernstrom, director of professional racing for Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., today announced the company's decision not to contest the 2004 AMA Superbike Series, and instead to concentrate on the Superstock and Supersport series races. At the same time, he indicated that Kawasaki would release the company's Superbike racer, Eric Bostrom, to pursue his personal career objectives.

'Our decision is to put our team effort behind the Superstock and Supersport series at a time when the AMA's Superbike series is being restructured,' said Stjernstrom. 'Eric's contributions to the team and Kawasaki have been enormous over the past several years, and there's just no way we could stand in his way once the decision was made to not race the Superbike series,' he continued.

According to Stjernstrom, team management discussed the company's 2004 plans with Bostrom and a mutual agreement was reached, which the director of racing says 'is a prime example of the respect that exists between the two parties.'

'Kawasaki certainly wishes only the best for Eric in the future,' concluded Stjernstrom.

http://www.amasuperbike.com/2003-Nov/031114b.htm

phozed · 11-14-2003, 9:40 AM

another Kawi article from Soup

deez · 11-14-2003, 10:11 AM

All that time that he stuck with them on that relic POS, and rode the wheels off of it to some wins. Only to get slapped in the face. Does Kaw think that their bike won't do chit in Superbike or something? , maybe there are just scared like everyone else of the new all mighty, all conquering R1.

fl-929 · 11-14-2003, 10:33 AM

I would love to see him on a competitive ride in GP. I think with the right bike he could be racing in the front.

asiliat · 11-14-2003, 11:09 AM

The Kwaker is always playing catch-up. Poor disillusioned public.

And yet, their street bikes are very decent. Just wish their racing programs were so crum-bum.

tigerblade · 11-14-2003, 11:16 AM

The whole thing is bizarre. *They finally get a bike that could be right up there, they had one of the top riders... *

Crash · 11-14-2003, 11:32 AM

The way I understand it, Superstock will replace superbike as SBK will become a limited playing field with Honda, Suzuki, and Ducati.

Superstock is where the sales are going to be generated from now. Open class bikes that are close to what the public can buy, carries that age old adage of win on sunday sell on monday. Kawi wants to invest in that as the SBK rules still favor twins.

It makes sense, the manufactures want to win but more importantly they want to sell bikes, Superstock is where they can do that. Riders just want to win and they still believe that SBK is the premiere class. Difference of opinion as to where the future of the sport is going. I think that Superstock will be the class to watch.

Good for Eric, and possibly good for Kawi. Together they were going nowhere.

*the views and opinions of the above article are mine and do not represent anything grounded in common sense.

Red Rider · 11-14-2003, 11:53 AM

I have to believe with his skills and professionalism that EBoz will sign with another team quickly...

phozed · 11-14-2003, 2:34 PM

Quote:

Red Rider : I have to believe with his skills and professionalism that EBoz will sign with another team quickly...

Xaus, Eboz, or Gobert? You be the judge:

'I can tell you it's going to be a really good surprise. You will get some surprise in a short time. It will be a good surprise for any Ducati fan in the US. We want to be there and be at the proper level, so what we can say for sure is that you will see a very fast 999 next year in the AMA championship.'

http://www.amasuperbike.com/2003-Nov/031113e.htm

Repsol_69 · 11-14-2003, 5:34 PM

For the simple fact that i seriously dislike Austin Ducati, I pray Eric does not end up there.

Piccote - gone
Chandler - gone
Gobert - gone
Bassei - haven't heard anything

Please gawd dont let Eric end up in the group...

Oh yea; If ever there was a time Honda needed to make a move, now is it. Nicky and Eric racing in MGP would rock!

luvtolean · 11-14-2003, 5:44 PM

Eric on a 999...

Trackho · 11-14-2003, 6:29 PM

Eric and Ben both on 1000RRs---that would be sweeeeeeeeeeeeeet

CBRjack · 11-14-2003, 7:09 PM

Eric Bostrum will have no problem landing a new ride, if he doesn't have one already. I think he is one of the most talented racers in the sport. He spanked a lot of folks on that dinosaur of a Kawasaki. It wouyld be great to see him in moto GP.

ULEWZ · 11-14-2003, 9:29 PM

Now they need to release Tommy Hayden so he can start winning again.

oldgoat · 11-16-2003, 5:44 AM

I think it good for Eric, now he can really kick some a--. If he can do good on the old kawi, think what will happen when he's on a equally powered bike.

Respol_69, Like your Avatar, Got my fingers crossed

Repsol_69 · 11-16-2003, 10:31 AM

Quote:

ULEWZ : Now they need to release Tommy Hayden so he can start winning again.

I think Tommy had a pretty good season on the ZX6R and ZX6RR. I would say one of his best yet...

Thanks Goat... me too

rawrider · 11-17-2003, 11:15 AM

Quote:

tigerblade : The whole thing is bizarre. *They finally get a bike that could be right up there, they had one of the top riders... *

Dont blame the factory teams. Kawi,Yamaha, and Suzuki had all stated that they had interest in Superbike but the decesion of the AMA to change the rules led them to back out of the sreies. Suzuki may still be in Superbike along with Honda and Ducati, but IMO, its gonna be lame. The rules limit the modifications that 4cyl. can do to their throttle bodies and air induction systems where as there is no restriction for twins. Many feel that the rules have been made to cater to Honda and V-twins as well. The throttle body system that Suzuki used this year(which resulted in an additional 12-15 Hp)would be illegal for next year. Honda has in a since copied that system and put on their production bikes therefore making it legal for them. The big factory teams do not want to spend the big bucks associated with superbike and not be competitive. Ducati will be strong, Honda has the luxury of running the RC51 or the 1000RR and have both be competitive. Superstock is more cost-effective than superbike, and a win in superstock w/ all the factories represented is much more valuable.