2005 Renegade Honda World Superbike rider Ben Bostrom will return to the AMA Superbike championship again next season after signing to replace younger brother Eric, alongside Neil Hodgson, in the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team - where he will ride a factory 999.
31-year-old Bostrom, previously a race-winning factory Ducati rider in WSBK, will step back onto the 'official' machine after a three-year gap in which he rode firstly for American Honda in AMA Superbike and then the privateer Renegade team in World Superbike.
"You know, this year was a tough one on the racetrack," admitted Ben, who finished 15th in the final 2005 WSBK standings with a best finish of sixth on an under-developed Fireblade. "So I'm real excited to be back with a factory that I've had so much success with in the past. We've shared lots of good memories, Ducati and I, and I'm looking forward to a strong season together, and to creating new memories with them."
Former WSBK wild-card Eric won four races with the Ducati Austin 999 in the last two seasons, but has signed to ride for Yamaha next year - where he will compete in both the Formula Extreme and Superstock classes, but apparently not the Superbike series.
"I just saw the new bikes and they are awesome," said Eric. "I feel great and Yamaha has already made me feel so much a part of their family. I just can't wait to start riding."
Hodgson, Eric's team-mate this season, will remain in the premier AMA class for 2006, where the Briton aims to make use of his learning year to aim for the title and thus fulfil his ambition of becoming the only rider to win the 'triple crown' of British, American and World Superbike titles.
The former World Superbike champion finished sixth in his debut AMA Superbike season, winning one race at Road America and stepping onto the podium a further five times in the 10 round/17 race series.
