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AMA Superbike, Laguna Seca: Honda report

In SBK

07 luglio 2009

Neil Hodgson had an eventful day with a sixth place finish in the AMA Pro Road Racing Superbike race that supported the U.S. Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

Two turns into the race, held as the last event on grand prix Sunday, Hodgson was knocked down in the second turn, though lucky to be unhurt. The race was almost immediately stopped and he was able to re-start.

When the race began for the second time, now shortened to 18 laps, Hodgson was away seventh on the first lap, but made his way up to sixth by lap five.

First he targeted Josh Hayes (Yamaha), before Hayes passed teammate Ben Bostrom, who became Hodgson's rabbit. Bostrom was within Hodgson's sights when the checkered flag fell. The gap between them was .257s.

"Really happy," Hodgson said. "You can't believe how I feel. I'm just like, I am over the moon."

Part of his joy came from his physical condition. Hodgson has been rehabilitating a severely separated shoulder and punctured lung that he suffered in a motocross back in March. The injury is the type that can take up to a year to heal. And with a four week break since the last AMA race at Road America, Hodgson was able to get the shoulder to the point where it doesn't bother him on the Corona Extra Honda CBR1000RR.

"My shoulder didn't hold me back one bit," he said.

Now the season dives into the second half with races at almost regular two week intervals. The team has one weekend off before going to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the 13th of 20 rounds.

The race was won by Mat Mladin (Suzuki) from teammate Blake Young and Aaron Yates (Suzuki).

Neil Hodgson 6th
That was pretty scary, because I saw a crash happen before it happened, because, out of the corner of my eye I saw, I'm sure it was (Ben) Bostrom, go up the inside, obviously way too fast. Obviously you know the door's already closed because people had turned. So I'd sat up before the crash had happened. Because I knew the position I was on the track I was going to get collected. So I sat up thinking I'd just missed it all. And then the next thing, you never know, it happened so fast I was on the ground. And it just instantly knocked the wind out of myself, which it just always seems to happen to me, which is horrible. I've got a big rib cage, so I think I'm prone to getting winded. So I laid there for a bit until I could breathe and then got up and thankfully they stopped the race. I'd already got my bike anyway. The marshals had put it to the side and like leaned it on the floor. It was just like lying down. I picked it up and said, I'm not done yet.

And then the re-start, I got an average start, which I've been getting every year. and I literally rode as hard as I could. That was pretty much the limit for me. Just a few areas of the bike that we need to improve that we're going to improve for the next race. Hopefully that'll give us two or three-tenths a lap which is probably all we need really to be getting on the podium and hopefully winning some races.

Team principal Tim Saunders
Considering how the race started, we have to be very pleased. It was an unfortunate case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. But Neil didn't do himself any further damage to his shoulder or ribs and was able to re-start the race. Considering he hadn't ridden for a month, and after the trauma of the accident, he came through the day with flying colors. There are a few areas of the bike we need to work on, but with his physical health rounding into shape it puts us in good stead for the second half of the season.

American Superbike:
1. Mat Mladin (Suzuki)
2. Blake Young (Suzuki)
3. Aaron Yates (Suzuki)
4. Josh Hayes (Yamaha)
5. Ben Bostrom (Yamaha)
6. Neil Hodgson (Honda)
7. Jake Holden (Honda)
8. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki)
9. Geoff May (Suzuki)
10. Larry Pegram (Ducati)

Championship Standings:
1. Mat Mladin (Honda) 355
2. Tommy Hayden (Suzuki) 228
3. Ben Bostrom (Yamaha) 203
4. Larry Pegram (Ducati) 191
5. Josh Hayes (Yamaha) 182
6. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) 173
7. Geoff May (Suzuki) 173
8. Blake Young (Suzuki) 169
9. David Anthony (Suzuki) 120
10. Taylor Knapp (Suzuki) 101