Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128198
Neil Hodgson The fact that Ducati Corse has chosen Neil Hodsson to help resain its World Superbike Championship winnins status in ~003 speaks volumes about his recent determination and skill. His own words sive us a first-hand account of what it's like to be a prodisal son in the bissest World Superbike family of all - Ducati. By GORDON RITCHIE PHOTOS BY GOLD & GOOSE hen Neil Hodgson qualified on the first row of a 500cc Grand Prix grid in 1995 - on a semiprivateer bike in his rookie season, no less - a new British talent had been discovered. Global glory beckoned. When he was fired from first Ducati and then Kawasaki in successive 1997 and '98 World Superbike seasons, he hightailed it back to England with his reputation and confidence in tatters. Oblivion beckoned. After two years in the GSE British Superb ike SAS training camp, learning how to survive in tough terrain and conquer hordes of well-equipped and savage opponents, the meaner and more mature Hodgson had a British Championship to his name. World Championships beckoned. The passport thus got an airing once more as he 22 JANUARY 29, 2003' cue I e n re-entered World Superbike with the semi-works GSE-Racing squad, winning races in his first year and finishing third in the title last season. Edwards and Bayliss may have cleared off in fine style, but Hodgson was easily the next best rider. A full factory ride once more beckoned. So impressive was Hodgson that he is back with the new and improved Ducati factory squad, ready to write the latest chapter in his adventure novel with Ducati's latest red rocket, the 999 F03. With only his new teammate Ruben Xaus on a similar factory bike running Michelin tires and the pair of them ranged against the odd four-cylinder thou, a couple of year-old 998s and a host of private Dukes on the anorexic World Superbike grid, Hodgson (and less so the crash-prone Xaus) is a strong favorite to win the world title he has always craved. Global glory once more beckons. As he himself acknowledges, everyone takes great delight in telling him he's probably going to win it by a mile, but the 2003 model Hodgson, having eVIl's ridden the roller coaster too often in the past, is taking nothing for granted. Q Are you excited about the genuine prospect of winning the championship this season? Yes, really excited. I'm not thinking about it too much at the moment because World Superbike runs a long season. I can start getting worked up at this point, but it is almost a waste of energy. I am actually trying not to think about it too much and just get over last season. Everyone I talk to wants to talk about it [his chances of winning] though! This must be your best ever chance of winning a world title? A BY far. Of all the championships I've entered so far, even back in 2000 when I won the British title, I wasn't tipped to win the championship. People said it would be my teammate Niall Mackenzie, or Chris Walker or John Reynolds. As far as the World Championship goes, I've never been in a stronger position.