American Honda opt out of WSB wildcard rides

American Honda have decided not to field wildcards for the World Superbike round at Laguna Seca on July 13. This will rule out Ben Bostrom, Kurtis Roberts and Miguel DuHamel, all Honda riders in the domestic series.

The team did compete in the WSB races in 2002 with Nicky Hayden. For 2003 the team has decided to concentrate on the American championship meeting which takes place at the venue on the same weekend.

All the riders are likely to be disappointed at missing the chance to impress on the world stage, particularly ex-factory Ducati rider Bostrom. He has won three WSB races at Laguna Seca, his first in 1999, before he did the double in 2001.

There are six wildcard places for the international event, and currently only four AMA regulars are likely to seek entry: Yoshimura Suzuki’s Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates, Kawasaki’s Ben Bostrom and Ducati Austin’s Giovanni Bussei.

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