THE BOSTROM BROTHERS: ROCK STARS OF THE TRACK
Ben and Eric Bostrom are big in Japan. And in Europe and South America and Canada. They've become millionaires through their winnings and sponsors. But few in the U. S. have heard of them.
The brothers dominate the growing motorcycle sports of AMA Superbike and Supermoto. Ben, 32, won the X-Games gold when SuperMoto debuted in 2004. Eric, 30, dominates the AMA circuit. When the two circle the track on their roaring machines, bent so far over in the curve that their elbows nearly touch the track, their power and athletic skills cause gasps in the stands.
But it's not just their top riding that brings in the fans, nor their movie-star good looks. The two also famous for their delicious, wicked sense of humor.
An interview with the brothers often takes a turn that the reporter never expected. The Bostroms recently rode at a Utah charity event, where questions about motorcycles turned into a conversation about groupies.
"Yeah, we have 'em," Eric said. "We call them 'racer chasers'."
"Some of them are 'pro ho's'," Ben chimed in. Then he added, "We were at this Red Bull party and there were some cowboys from PRR (pro rodeo riders) there. Ross Coleman (a top PRR rider) told us they call them 'buckle bunnies.'
The brothers cracked up, then Ben turned serious and explained, "We love them. They are so cool. It's not about sex."
Eric said, "You're there on a race weekend, and there's about 20 guys on your team. Imagine these guys, seven days a week, just working on motorcycles in a garage. So some of the groupies might come by and socialize with them. And it uplifts the whole team, because everyone's got something to look at. So we pull 'em in on purpose. It's like giving something back to the team."
The brothers grew up in Northern California, but now live in Malibu, in Southern Cal. They cross train on mountain bikes, getting the thigh power they need from hard hill climbs, gaining agility by chasing each other over the single track trails in the Malibu hills. The two also surf and rock climb.
"We're not much for gyms," Eric said, then pointed at brother Ben and snickered, saying, "Though he's been doing a bit of body sculpting lately."
Ben admitted it with a sheepish grin, but showed his rock-hard bulging biceps as proof.
The two come from a motorcycle racing family. Their father, Dave Bostrom, was a pro champion in the 60's and 70's; as was uncle Paul.
They laugh at their childhood racing beginnings.
"My dad and uncle loved to go out and play on their bikes, so they gave me one, and I said, 'What am I supposed to do with this?' I fell over, I couldn't start it, so they gave me another one. Eric would think it was his, and he'd cry, " said Ben.
Eric said, "I felt I'd been robbed, at the age of three. He had two motorcycles, and I didn't even have one!"
"So it was only natural that when we got on the race track, he said, "I hate you and I'm going to beat you." Right? So we fought it out," Ben said.
And the two crack up again. But Ben explains, "We joke around a lot, but the fact is that we're each other's biggest supporters." And Eric is quick to add, "He's paved the way. Every ride I've ever had has been through Ben's efforts. My first ride dirt track racing was through Ben." Then Ben interrupts, "But it was Eric that brought me to Yamaha, you see how that works?"
It's like a routine.
Both are factory team riders for Yamaha. And the fans love them.
"Mostly him," says Ben, pointing to blond Eric. "The female fans," Eric is quick to add.
The quick-paced patter the two have developed would make them great guests on Letterman or Leno. Give their sport, and their dominance of it, a little more time, and you may just see them there.