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/128394
Hodgson Confirmed, But Not Bostrom n Friday afternoon, August 26, at Virginia International Raceway, Neil Hodgson confirmed racing's worst kept secret - that he'll remain with the Ducati Austin team to race the AHA Superbike Championship in 2006. "My goal was to re-sign with Ducati," Hodgson said under the Ducati Austin canopy at VIR. "Obviously, it's a bike that I know." The signing was completed three weeks earlier at the Brands Hatch round of the World Superbike Championship. "Having spent a year with the team, I didn't want to have to relearn something aU over again. I'm really excited," Hodgson said. Hodgson said there were other options, but the goal was "just trying to work everything out right to stay here really." World Superbike was never in the cards, he said. "No, not at all," Hodgson said. "It's been such a learning year that I need to try and get back on track. I started the season good. I did a bit of testing. Everything worked good. We've gone through a bit of a difficult period, really. We had a little bit of bad luck and lost our way with the settings, so I want to make sure that I make the most of next year." One concern he's voiced in the past is whether the Ducati 999 O can be competitive with the increasingly fast Suzukis. "They have improved this year," he said. "They have a plan of development for winter, so it can only get better. That's the way I look at it." What it needs is more power, he said. He may get a taste of it during tests closer to his home on the Isle of Man. "They've got a couple of tests planned for me in Europe, which will be good, really good to do," Hodgson said. "Because there are tracks that I know really well and, trying different parts on the bike, hopefully I'll be able to be really accurate There has been a question of whether Bostrom receives the same parts as Hodgson. "The only difference between the two bikes is the electronic unit, which we are testing on Neil's bike," Ciabatti said. "But it doesn't make any difference on the bike at the moment. The ECU and the wiring is different. The eventual improvements will be applied only when the season is over on both riders. So at the moment, it's just testing the material on one of the two bikes. But there is really no advantage or disadvantage on using one bike or the other bike." Ciabatti said both are Marelli systems, one newer than the other. "The newer version gives more possibilities to work on some of the engine management," he said. '~t the moment, we don't use it. We just use the unit to see that everything is working fine because the engine is slightly different from World Superbike engine, so we just wanted to see that everything will be accepted by this bike without any problems. The possible improvements on the electronic side we're not using on his bike. It would be unfair. And actually, Eric [Bostrom1 has won two races with this bike, I think meaning this bike is as good as the other bike." Ciabatti understood Bostrom's hesitation. Up until Laguna Seca, he'd had a rough year and a half on the Ducati if you discount his success at Pikes Peak International Raceway. "I think he had some problem to get used to the bike, tires and the way this bike needs to be ridden," Ciabatti said. ''And now it looks like he has found the way to ride it 100 percent. I think he also has a very good relationship with Gary Medley, which has helped a lot. Honestly, I think that if his situation stays and he can see that here and Road Atlanta things are the same, he will be "My goal was to re-sign with Ducati. Obviously, it's a bike that I know." - Neil Hodgson with the information I give them." Hodgson's current teammate, Eric Bostrom, has yet to re-sign, but it's in the works, according to Ducati Corse Superbike Program director Paolo Ciabatti. "Hopefully, Eric will stay with us," Ciabatti said. "He knows all the tracks. He's very fast now that he has found a good feeling with the bike, and he's also very popular among fans and the dealers, so he's a good asset on the marketing side of the company. I think the best for us is to stay with what we have now for riders." happy to stay. If for some reason he drops back to be struggling, I think he have to sit and think why this is happening, because at that point, I think he has no fun in riding our bike. And we need riders who like to ride our bike, because once they like it, they do 100 percent. [If] they don't like it, they will struggle and this is not good for the rider, this is not good for us. So I guess that if, as I think and I hope, here and in Atlanta we will do good with Eric as well, I think he will have no doubts about continuing. " Henny Ray Abrams Briefly•.. Continued from page 7 event in 2004. Each year, the foundation seeks to support qualified students with their chosen academic endeavors, according to the foundation. This year, the foundation raised nearly $4SOO, and the scholarship award winners were Dennis Eli Malandrini, Whitney Harper, Kyle Cowling and Becca Phillips. A special acknowledgement certificate was also given to Murphy's longtime friend Danielle Harden, "for her tireless search for donations to the foundation," according to the foundation. REM will be hosting a special two-day event for the second annual "Whit's Race" December 2-3 at Glen Helen Raceway Park in San Bernardino, California. Anyone wishing to make a donation to the Whitney Murphy Scholarship Foundation or to apply for next year's scholarships can contact REM or e-mail murf9d@yahoo.com. The fourth annual Eastridge Motorcycle Ministry Benefit Ride will be held on September 24 to raise money for Poppy Zegger-Murphy, a 5-month-old girl who is currently in Boston's Children Hospital awaiting a double lung transplant. The ride will start at the Eastridge Community Church in Covington, Georgia, at 10 a.m., with registration slated to start at 9 a.m. The cost is $20 per bike, with two-up riders to pay $30. For more information, call Wayne Kitchens at 770/3B5-2709 or e-mail wkitchens@ssemc.com. AirLand Entertainment Inc. has announced the new CMA National Arenacross Series, the first indoor arenacross series in Ontario, according to AirLand. The new series is set to begin racing in May of 2006 and the series promoters are looking for motocross and arenacross riders from across the U.S. and Canada to compete. The eight-race regional series - sanctioned by the Canadian Motorcycle Association (CMA) - will offer prize money, with $2000 awarded to first-place finishers in each MX I and MX2 main event, smaller cash prizes for riders with top-I 6 finishes, and a $SOO holeshot award for each class. Series payouts for MX I and MX2 will exceed $130,000. ''As riders ourselves, we know the physical demands of the sport and wanted to create a series with a top-tier purse that reflects our respect for the riders," said Joe Baird, cofounder of the series. "We believe the quality of the events, the fans of arenacross and attractive prize money will bring top riders from across Ontario as well as North America." Additionally, the affiliation with the CMA means that the series and its riders will be recognized internationally by the FIM, according to AirLand. "We're excited to receive the backing and support of the CMA and that our riders will have an opportunity to add a sanctioned National title to their credentials," Baird said. ''AirLand Entertainment Inc. is looking forward to working with the CMA and developing the CMA National Arenacross Series into the premier offroad racing series in Canada." For more information on the series and rider registration, visit www.axcanada.com. The sixth annual All-Star Ride for Life, benefiting the Duke Children's Hospital, is set to roll off on Saturday, September lOin Raleigh, North Carolina. The ride begins at Scooter's Bar and Grill in Raleigh and visits some of the area's best bike shops and restaurants, then follows a police escort to the Duke Children's Hospital to meet some of the kids and their parents, followed by an after-party to celebrate the efforts of the day. Leading off the festivities will be five-time Daytona 200 winner and former World Superbike Champion Scott Russell. Also returning from last year's ride will be factory Yamaha rider and former 600cc Supersport Champion Jamie Hacking, and former 600cc Supersport and AMA Superbike Champion Jamie James. For more information, visit www.AlIStarRide.org. Bruce Rossmeyer, CEO of 10 Harley-Davidson locations, will open what he is calling "The World's Largest Harley-Davidson dealership" on October 21 in Ormond Beach, Florida, as part of his latest project - the ISO-acre "Destination Daytona." Coinciding with Biketoberfest, Daytona Beach's fall motorcycle rally, I980s rockers Foreigner and z:z. Top will perform at Destination Daytona on Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22 at 8 p.m. both nights to celebrate the opening. Open to the public. the cost is $10 per person. For more information about Daytona Harley-Davidson or Destination Daytona, call 9S4/724-2800. The USGPRU has announced the minimum age limit at select events this year will be lowered to 12 years old. The 12-year-old age limit will apply for both the East Coast Regional final at Autobahn Raceway on September II and the $10,000 National Championship final race at Continued on poge 13 CYCLE NEWS • SEPTEMBER 7, 2005 9