Ben Bostrom gets MotoGP shot

From motogp.com

This weekend, the LCR Honda team will 'double up' its efforts at the Red Bull US Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA. LCR's Toni Elías will be joined by Michael Jordan Motorsports' Ben Bostrom, who will compete in the MotoGP race as a wild card. Bostrom will also race, as usual, in the AMA Superbike class.

The decision to invite Bostrom, a former World Superbike rider, to compete in MotoGP on one of the Honda RC212Vs is a result of the excellent relationship between the LCR Team and the management of Michael Jordan Motorsports, which is owned by the legendary NBA superstar Michael Jordan. MotoGP is gaining popularity in the United States and the Laguna Seca race is one of two MotoGP stops in the United States this season.

"Words can't express how excited I am to get this amazing opportunity to race on my home track in front of the whole world," Bostrom said. "I have to thank Michael Jordan Motorsports and American Suzuki for allowing this to happen. The collaboration between Lucio, LCR and the MJM team has been terrific. I'm going to get on the GP bike and put it as close to the front as possible. Then I'm going to hop on my Jordan Suzuki bike and try to create even more magic."

As in 2010 when the LCR Team gave Roger Lee Hayden the opportunity to ride the team's bike in the MotoGP race after Randy de Puniet broke his left leg in the race at the Sachsenring, Germany, Lucio and the team's partners are taking the opportunity to experience another MotoGP race in the United States with an American rider.

"Considering that some of our partners are operating in the American market, we thought that we should organize a special event before the summer break," explained team owner Lucio Cecchinello. "Because of the great relationship between the LCR team and Michael Jordan Motorsports, we decided to invite one of Laguna Seca's most successful riders to compete for us in the race: Ben Bostrom. Ben will ride with one of our RCVs as a 'wild card' rider for only one race, while also taking part in the AMA Superbike race for Michael Jordan Motorsports. I'd like to offer many thanks to the Michael Jordan Motorsports team for the great collaboration and the amazing support."