Bobby Fong on the grid at Mid-Ohio. (Larry Lawrence photo)
To my eyes the breakout performer at Mid-Ohio this weekend was Bobby Fong. Fong, 19, from Stockton, Calif., earned his first podium finishes this weekend in Daytona SportBike . On Saturday Fong came up just 4/100ths of a second short of winning his first national when he scored a close second to Team Grave Yamaha’s Josh Herrin. Then on Sunday he and fellow Ducati rider, veteran Steve Rapp, took their second-place battle to the flag, with Rapp getting the position and Fong taking another outstanding result in third.
Fong’s DNA Energy Drink CNR Motorsports Ducati was down on power to the other top runners in Daytona Sportbike, but he made up for the deficit with some amazing riding. I’d like to nominate Fong’s pass coming into turn four off the back straight in Sunday’s race as “Pass of the Year”. Fong late braked around the outside coming off the back straight passing three of the top runners and then getting inside a lapper in the next turn managing to put the lapped rider between himself and his pursuers. His entry speed was so fast I never thought he was going to make the turn, but his Ducati, while it may lack in power, looks to be the best-handling motorcycle in Daytona SportBike, at least it was at Mid-Ohio.
Fong leading Sunday's Daytona SportBike race at Mid-Ohio. (Larry Lawrence photo)
It will be interesting to see if Fong builds on his Mid-Ohio momentum. Even though I described a crazy pass he made during Sunday’s race at Mid-Ohio, the thing that stood out for me was just how smooth and precise of a rider Fong really is. If Mid-Ohio is any indication Fong should be a contender the rest of the season and if the team can find a few more ponies for his Ducati, look out.
Fong is just the latest in a long tradition of top AFM North riders who have made a successful transaction to the pro ranks. It’s an impressive list that goes all the way back to riders like Art Baumann and Paul Ritter in the 1970s, to Scott Gray, Donny Greene and John Williams in the 1980s, to Rich Oliver, David Deveau, Mark McDaniel, Chuck Sorensen, Al Salaverria, James Randolph, Tony Meiring and Brian Parriott in the 1990s and finally to Steve Rapp and now the up-and-coming Fong.