Neil Hodgson at Scarborough

Neil Hodgson turned race fan this weekend spending two days hanging out in the Scarborough Gold Cup paddock.

Hodgson told MCN: “It’s 20 years since I raced here. I came here when I was 15 and still motocross and watched at Mere Hairpin.

“I saw Foggy (Carl Fogarty) and Jamie (Whitham) hurtle in there on the brakes with their rear wheels off the deck and I thought to myself, ‘I’ve got to have a go at this road racing lark.’

“I raced here twice on a 125 in the Nineties and absolutely loved the place. It’s good to race here but I’m also enjoying spectating too. And what a great crowd eh?”

Hodgson has been racing a Corona Extra Honda in the States but Honda American have recently announcing their withdrawl from AMA superbike racing.

Hodgson’s season has been blighted by a shoulder injury.

He’s to have another operation on the shoulder, which should see him fully fit for the 2010 season and is hoping to race full-time in BSB next year.