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Ben Bostrom seemed like in AMA, on Fridays, the guys kind of warmed up a bit. I'm not kidding, on Friday morning these guys - on the fifth lap - they're already doing the times. It's really scary the aggression these guys have - the seriousness. They are going to be up to speed and I'm going to be about eight seconds off the pace. It's dangerous, actually - for me and them because I'm going to be going so slow. I figure I've got Friday and Saturday, and by Sunday I should be coming around. It worries me a little bit. I think if I'm riding well, it won't make any difference. "In AMA racing it was so nice going out in the first practice and a lot of the time having everyone trying to catch me. That's a good feeling because it gives you a nice boost of confidence. When I showed up in the U.S., I knew the tracks, I knew the bike and I really believed in my team. Terry [Vance) runs one of the best teams in the AMA paddock - for sure. It's clean, they show up, you feel good when you show up at the track because the team just looks great. Your bike is fresh, clean and straightaway you're fast and ready for the weekend. Unfortunately, in World Superbike, I have the same deal with the Ducati - it's a really nice team - but the thing that's lacking is I don't know the tracks. On one hand, I'm on a high because I see the team and how good it is and how good the bike is, but on the other hand I've still got it in the back of my mind that when I get to the end of the straightaway I can see that the first turn goes left - but from there I don't know where I'm going. It really takes a lot of out of you. You're thinking that somebody is going to run you over from behind - I'm going to wish 1 had mirrors on my bike in that first practice. When you're looking over your shoulder as much as I'm going to be looking over my shoulder, it distracts the hell out of you." Okay, but at least the bike is the same as what he rode last year. That part will be simple enough, right? Wrong! "The bike is completely different than last year," Bostrom said. "That's another major thing I'm trying to get used to. If I knew then [last year] what I know now, we. could have dropped about a second a lap. I've learned that over here we didn't try enough stuff. Over there, they. change the configuration of the bike constantly, trying to find something better. I've found something really good on the bike, and it's so far from what I had on my bike last year. I'm trying to relearn how to ride this bike, because I know this one is better. It's crazy." Not getting to know the motorcycle a bit better last year is one thing that Bostrom regrets about his final season of AMA Superbike racing. If he could give out advice to young AMA riders with an idea of heading to Europe and the wars of World Superbike, Bostrom said it would be to pay more attention to what they're doing while they are here. "My advice would be to take advantage of the time you have here to change the bike, because over there you don't have the time," Bostrom said. "Here, we know the tracks, we know our bikes, and on Friday and Saturday we're just riding. Sure, we're trying little things on the bike here and there, but basically we're just riding. On Sunday, it's race day and you're dialed in. Over there it's trying way more tires, more stuff on the bikes. I really regret not trying all different kinds of offsets, head angles, swingarm adjustments on the bike last year. Now I'm learning it, and I'm still learning - just what the bike does when you raise it and lower it and do all kinds of crazy stuff. I could have done all of that last year on my own turf - now I have to learn the bike, the tracks, the tires. That's my advice: Learn the 26 APRIL 5, 2000' co U co I e n eVIl's As part of Infostrada's advertising campaign, the bike will wear 155, the pay-information phone number of the Italian company. bike while you're here. You've got to change everything and get an idea of what happens when certain things are changed. You need that as a rider." So the deck is stacked against him. Still, the Bostrom confidence level remains high - even if he's a bit apprehensive. "Most people think winning is out of the question for me this year, but I don't think it is," Bostrom said. "I don't believe that because 1 think some tracks are just going to click. I think I'm really going to like some of the tracks. I want to run up front at several, and I want to win a few. I don't think I'm asking too much there, but I know it's a lot to ask in a way. When those guys are setting up their bikes on a Friday, I'm going to be learning the track. They'll always be a few steps ahead. I just have to take some chances and ride a little harder. I have to keep myself in better shape than them so at the end of the race, the last five laps, I'm still fresh when they start to fade a bit. I've got to capitalize on all the little things because I'm starting out behind them." And besides his teammate Fogarty, there's another friendly face in the paddock to which Bostrom may be able to turn - fellow American Colin Edwards II. "I get along great with Colin [Edwards]," Bostrom said. "He's been a really big help. I've been calling the guy constantly, asking him stuff: 'Where do I get this for my motorhome, where do I get that?' He's been a big help. lowe the guy. Colin is going so fast right now; his confidence level is really high. Between him and Carl, those two guys are going to be so hard to beat. Both of them are riding really well right now." While he eagerly awaits the start of his first season of World Superbike racing, Bostrom already misses AMA racing. He hopes to be racing again at Daytona in 2001 on his factory Ducati, reuniting himself for at least that one race with his best friend (and brother) Eric. "I am going to miss racing here," Bostrom said. "I certainly did when I went to Daytona. I asked the team if I could ride - I wanted to ride. They said no, but that they'd bring the official team over in 2001. I was watching the race this year, wishing so bad that I was there. I also wish I was going to be here to push my brother all season. He's been my training partner since day one; he's my brother and my best friend at the same time, so we've always hung out, talked about stuff and raced. Without him, there's really going to be something missing out of my life." Expectations remain high for Bostrom - even in his freshman season. He knows that things can get difficult over there, but he's prepared - for the good and the bad. "I've had an incredible amount of press over there," Bostrom said. "I think everybody expects a lot. I was hoping they wouldn't expect much. Even Davide [Tardozzi] at Ducati said, 'Ben, you need to get back what you had.' He knows that if I struggle, the press will kill me. They can talk you up so big, but they'll just as easily shoot me down. They have high expectations for me over there and I don't plan on letting anybody down." He's also going to try and mix in a bit of fun while he's there. A young American in Europe - how could he not have fun? "It's been a big life change for me," Bostrom said. "I'd never set foot in Europe before the first test. It's like culture shock. It's good in a way because I can't wait to see the world. I'm going to stay over there and train and play and see the world. I just want to keep my vibe really high, get to the track and pull the trigger. It's hard, but it should be good. "Sure, I'm nervous, but it's a good kind of nervous. Hey, if you're not nervous, you're not into it. I think I'll be okay." So do we. eN