Video: Hodgson successful Almeria test

Neil Hodgson and Dan Linfoot were both upbeat after their three-day test on the Motorpoint Yamaha R1 at Almeria.  

For Hodgson is was his first time back on a bike after recent remedial surgery to repair the damage to his shoulder sustained in a mid-season motocross training crash. It was also his first time on the crossplane crank R1, his first time on Pirellis and his first time at the Spanish circuit.  

He said: “I’m so pleased. My shoulder was really good. It’s still weak but no painful. I was happy with my lap times too. The bike is so different to anything I’ve ridden before but has the smoothest power delivery ever!  

“On the first day I just got a feel for the bike and the circuit and on day two we made some suspension changes on the second day and I felt right at home after that.”

Linfoot was delighted with the way the R1 was working – especially compared to the unweidly beast it looked when he raced it at the end of the season.

“It’s very, very good now. I loved all three days. It felt like a different bike to the one I raced at the end of the season. It’s just so settled in the corners now when before it was always trying to throw me off. I’ve got a big smile on my face.”