Ducati Sporting Club UK > Sport > Race > Oh so close for Hodgson

[Felix]

Amazingly, there was other racing on this weekend besides DesmoDue. Neil Hodgson in the AMA series was at the California Speedway. Not much of a track, essentially cone racing on what is normally a big Nascar oval track. While Neil was suffering from illness, he still managed to almost win his frirst AMA race. The Saturday race saw Mat suffer a rare mechanical DNF. Neil was leading the race on the last lap with Ben Spies hard on his heels. Neil overcooked the chicane just about managing to stay on track, finishing third. The second race was another demonstration by Mat Mladin, with Neil coming fifth. He is now third in the championship, only 9 points behind leader Spies.

[KeefyB]

Yep,shame Neil did'nt win that one.
What an awfull track tho,..........all those cones and strange rumble strip "chicanes"!
Looking at the 'on board' shots it was difficult to see which way the track went.Reminded me of the time I raced at RAF Sculthorp with the Newmarket MCC.

[Henners]

Originally posted on Ducati.com
Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin's Eric Bostrom and Neil Hodgson had an eventful Sunday at Fontana. Bostrom was fourth after fighting for a podium position and Hodgson finished fifth, a gutsy ride for the Isle of Man resident. Neil spent most of the day in the track medical center before being cleared to race his Ducati 999 Superbike and he returned to the medical center immediately after the 28-lap event.

"That was the hardest race of my life," said Hodgson. "It was hard to concentrate. I was just trying to finish." Hodgson had been sick all weekend, but Neil took a turn for the worse Saturday night. While he insisted he wanted to race to keep his championship hopes alive, it appeared doubtful he could make it. Still, the doctors agreed to clear him medically. Hodgson started the race, completed it, and was remarkably competitive.

Neil is now third in the championship, but gained ground to first place despite being ill all weekend. "It's all about the championship. It hasn't been the best weekend but the championship hasn't been a negative," he said.

Team engineer Luca Ferraccioli said Hodgson's performance was inspiring to the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin squad. "Neil had an unbelievable race. He fought very hard. He had the IVs before the race and the doctors told us he might not be able to finish. It was the best race he could possibly do. It was very important for him to finish for the championship. He's still very close to first position. What he did was very important and inspiring for the team. He's a tough rider."

[Rattler]

Good on the fella - also liked the new lid design

Tim

[clint]

Thumbs up to the Hodge, this weekend. He showed Spies and Yates in the first race, the 999 can match the Suzuki's. The Ducati was one of the fastest bikes on the banking.
I was so sure, he was on for his first victory in AMA.
But Maladin is fast. He will take something special to beat him.
Clint.

[TP]

It's a good result for Neil - he's riding well. He got a good opportunity to close the points gap to Mladin.

Is Mat still leading the championship?

[Rattler]

I thought that Spies was leading ???

[clint]

Overall Standings for AMA.
1. Spies (Suzuki) - 155
2. Mladin (Suzuki) - 152
3. Hodgson (Ducati) - 146
4. Yates (Suzuki) - 143
5. Bostrom (Ducati) - 122
6. DuHamel (Honda) - 118

[clockwork orange]

And considering that Hodgson's bike is not greatly modified from a standard 999R, unlike Mr Toseland's F05........

[Felix]

Originally posted by clockwork orange
And considering that Hodgson's bike is not greatly modified from a standard 999R, unlike Mr Toseland's F05........

Err...what? Oh you mean they've kept the frame standard. Not much else is the same.