Ben Bostrom will make his World Superbike race return at the opening round of the 2005 championship at Qatar this Saturday, after signing with serial 2004 Superbike race winners, Renegade.
The Anglo-Italian team won six races with
Noriyuki Haga and customer spec Ducati machinery last season, but have switched to Honda Fireblades over the winter and hired 30-year-old Bostrom - a seven-times WSBK race winner and former AMA Superbike Champion - as their sole 2005 rider.
With the deal put together late, last weekend's Qatar test marked the first time that Bostrom rode the Renegade Honda and control Pirelli tyres. The American would finish just 23rd out of 29 riders as a result, but was pleased with the constant improvements made and is glad to be back in world championship racing.
"It's nice in this team, very personal. It feels good to be back, and I've been smiling the whole time I've been here," smiled Bostrom. "It's been fun tuning the bike to a new team and the boys had to work through the night to get us here in time. The bike feels better every single hour that passes, so that's the best thing of all."
Qatar first qualifying takes place tomorrow (Thursday).
