Re: Fan Favorite?
No doubt Ben B. is a good rider, and presumabably he has such a reputation around the world, but isn't it a stretch to call an American riding a Ducati (there's two strikes against him, right there!) a "favorite" in Sugo, Japan?
I'd have to figure that a local boy on a Japanese bike would please the fans at Sugo, and that's exactly what happened. And Aprilia at least has a Japanese rider.
Of course, I'd also be surprised if the Japanese race promoters went out of their way to generate anti Bostrom sentiment, in contrast to the way that American promoters tried to whip up dislike for Fogarty - of course Carl helped that situation along, didn't he?
No doubt Ben B. is a good rider, and presumabably he has such a reputation around the world, but isn't it a stretch to call an American riding a Ducati (there's two strikes against him, right there!) a "favorite" in Sugo, Japan?
I'd have to figure that a local boy on a Japanese bike would please the fans at Sugo, and that's exactly what happened. And Aprilia at least has a Japanese rider.
Of course, I'd also be surprised if the Japanese race promoters went out of their way to generate anti Bostrom sentiment, in contrast to the way that American promoters tried to whip up dislike for Fogarty - of course Carl helped that situation along, didn't he?
