Neil Hodgson calls it quits

Neil Hodgson has today announced his retirement from racing.

The former World Superbike and British Superbike champion has been forced to quit the sport after aggravating the shoulder injury he sustained last year.

Hodgson required extensive surgery to rebuild his left shoulder after last year’s motocross crash and then clouted the shoulder after a huge highside during practice on the Motorpoint Yamaha for the first BSB round of the year at Brands Hatch on April 5.

Since then he’s undergone extensive physio but after a consultation with top specialist in Manchester yesterday, Hodgson has been forced to accept that his racing days are over.

He said: “That’s it. I’m hanging my leathers up but I’m thinking positive about the whole thing. It’s been a whirlwind 20 years and I’ve had such a good career. I don’t regret a thing.

“All the work in the US to rebuild my shoulder has been good but I’ve got to accept it is still too weak to ride a bike. It will heal in time but it may take months or even years of hard work to recover and even then it’s never going to be 100%.”

Ian Lowry will race Hodgson’s Motorpoint Yamaha at Oulton Park on May Bank Holiday.

For the full interview see the April 28 edition of MCN.