He's on the Road to the MotoGP Championship

In my prior blog I wrote that the road for American Road Racers to get a MotoGP Championship will require them to start out in the 125cc GP Class. Well there just so happens to be an American that has taken that road, Stevie Bonsey. Stevie joined the 125cc GP class in '07; Stevie is the first American since Alan Scott in the '80's to ride a full season in the 125 class. Stevie is also the first American  Jason De Salvo in '99 to ride in the 125 class.

Like many American World Champions before him Stevie started his racing career dirt track racing. After attending the Freddie Spencer racing school he was hooked on road racing and soon after caught the attention of the Red Bull KTM bosses. Successful testing with Red Bull in '06 put him on the Red Bull KTM team in '07 where he finished 25th in his first season.

In '08 he is riding #51 for the Degraaf Grand Prix team, his standings after the first three races is 7th with 23 points, 36 points out of first. His season started out badly in Qatar with a DNF, in Jerez he placed 6th and in Estoril he qualified on the front row in P2 and went on to finish 4th after a terrible start that put him back to 13th.

I watched the Estoril race and Stevie did a awesome job but did have a few bobbles. At one point he had just taken over 4th place with 3 other riders behind him. He must have missed a shift and went from 4th to 7th, but was back in 4th within one lap. I believe if he had gotten a better start he would have been battling for the lead as his lap time were right there with the leaders.

I look for great things from Stevie this season and as he moves on to 250's and eventually MotoGP. He could be the next American MotoGP Champion.