Hodgson still in title hunt

Britain’s Neil Hodgson took a fourth and fifth place at the AMA Superbike meeting at Road America on Saturday June 3 and Sunday June 4, 2006, as championship leader Mat Mladin took a double win.

In both races Mladin had to chase down Suzuki team-mate Ben Spies to take the win. The first race saw Spies overhaul first lap leader Miguel Duhamel before losing out to Mladin on lap six. The Sunday race saw Spies lead right from the start, and take the lead again when the race was restarted after a red flag. But he couldn’t stop Mladin coming past with just a few laps remaining.

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Hodgson has a quiet first race, pulling into a clear fifth place but unable to catch the leading four riders. “I improved a few positions from the start but the racers that finished in front of me were gone,” said Hodgson.

The second race saw Hodgson battling with the third Yoshimura Suzuki of Aaron Yates, before passing Miguel Duhamel in the closing stages.

“It’s always good battling with Aaron ebcause he’s a hard charger. If you can pass him, you know you’ve done well. Despite it being a power circuit, a good rider can hold off a pass attempt at Road America.”
Hodgson’s Parts Unlimited Ducati team-mate Ben Bostrom took eighth and and seventh. Hodgson maintains fourth place in the AMA championship.

AMA series standings:

1. Ben Spies (Suzuki) 322.

2. Mat Mladin (Suzuki) 301.

3. Miguel Duhamel (Honda) 251.

4. Neil Hodgson (Ducati) 236.

5. Aaron Yates (Suzuki) 229.