| Good test for Hodgy
Originally posted on Crash.net
The Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team battled through difficult weather conditions during a two-day test at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
Rain limited track time for Neil Hodgson and Eric Bostrom as they tested at the 2.238 mile (3.6 kilometer) Laguna Seca circuit, but both riders were able to spend most of Wednesday on track.
Hodgson was one of the few riders to brave the elements on Tuesday but managed just six laps as the rains fell.
Neil's best time on the second day of the test was an impressive 1min 26.42secs which was at least a whole second quicker than team-mate and AMA veteran Eric Bostrom.
As a comparison the fastest lap set last season during the Superbike race at Laguna Seca was 1min 25.961secs by Ben Bostrom on his Honda Fireblade. Hodgson's team-mate Eric Bostrom's best time during the race, which saw him take fifth place overall, was over one second slower at 1min 27.316secs. Therefore Hodgson's pace could've seen him finish in the top five.
"We achieved what we needed to get done in a short space, essentially about half a day of track time," said the former World Superbike champion. "It was a positive test and we learned a lot about the motorcycle. It already feels much like my 'old' bike I used to win the World Championship. It's going really, really well at the moment."
Hodgson previously raced at Laguna Seca in his World Superbike days and said the familiarity with the track helped him at the test.
"You need to test at a track you know. You could spend all day learning a new circuit but I know what a bike needs to do from my years racing here. Testing is all about finding your strengths and your weakest areas and we were able to do that,” he commented.
The Laguna Seca test was the final preseason trial for the Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin team.
"The first race at Daytona is somewhat of a different animal compared to the other tracks, but we'll be ready," said the Isle of Man resident.  | 
Threaded Mode