From the Ducati 999 RS to challenges with Honda: Team Renegade Koji amid triumphs, courage, and unforgettable podium finishes

Once upon a time there was a team that, while not one of the giants of the World Superbike Championship, had a mix of audacity, passion, and pure talent in its DNA: Team Renegade Koji. The team owner was Mark Griffiths. Between 2003 and 2005 the team made a name for itself in the world championship, fielding riders of great charisma such as former AMA champion Ben Bostrom and Japanese legend Noriyuki Haga.

After an initial taste in 2003 with Leon Haslam, the brightest season for Renegade Koji was 2004. The team lined up Noriyuki Haga on a Ducati 999 RS, and the Japanese rider, already known for his unmistakable style, turned that project into a leading presence. Haga won multiple times: at Brands Hatch in England he triumphed ahead of the competition, and at Magny‑Cours he was the first to cross the finish line in Race 2, setting the pace with his privateer superbike. Haga ended the season third in the world standings with six wins and nine total podiums, an incredible haul for a non-frontline team.

In 2005 the team chose the Honda CBR1000RR and decided to bet on Ben Bostrom, an experienced American rider, tasked with bringing competitiveness and consistency to the WSBK rounds. The new adventure was not without obstacles: the start of the season saw the team fighting with only one ready bike and setups to refine, turning every race into a dynamic testing ground; the difficult approach even forced the first outing with a road-derived bike, a symbol of a team that would not back down even in the face of technical difficulties.

At Brands Hatch, Bostrom fought with the best, earning valuable points and proving he could stay on the heels of fierce rivals like Corser and Vermeulen, finishing the race in the top 10.

Beyond World Superbike, the team also competed in the British Superbike Championship (BSB), always with the same approach: test, adapt, evolve. Every detail of the bike, every setup, every technical solution bore the signature of a group eager to grow, learn, and compete.

Renegade Koji remains in memory as one of those teams that embody the truest essence of motorsport: not just victory, but continuous challenge, total dedication, and the courage to take on a championship dominated by giants with more limited means, yet with determination equal to that of champions. In those seasons, every corner, every straight, every burst of acceleration told a story of passion and talent, written by those who were not content to merely participate, but wanted to leave a mark.