Hodgson survives MotoGP test scare

Neil Hodgson had luck on his side during his first MotoGP test on the 246bhp Ducati Desmosedici V4.

An oil leak led to some scary slides within his first three minutes on the bike, but fortunately he spotted oil all over his boot and managed to pull in without incident. His steady approach to riding the Ducati saw him finish the tests 10th fastest, with a time of 1:35.15.

And all this was the start of a weekend which saw him collect an FIM Award in Dubai, before jetting back to London to make the final five in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

In MCN, December 17, Hodgson tells us about his test scare, guides us around his MotoGP bike, and reveals how he needs to change his riding style.

And that’s just part of an eight-page special report on the first MotoGP showdown of the year. Find out about Shane Byrne’s progress on the Aprilia, updates to the Ducati Desmosedici and Kurtis Roberts’ debut on his dad’s team’s Proton KR5. And find out which MotoGP star has been doing a bit of television acting on the side.

All the news from the first MotoGP test at Valencia is in MCN, December 17, along with the first test of the Kawasaki ZX-10R (see link, right) and an eight-page supplement dedicated to one of the most legendary bikes in history. Discuss the GP news on the MotoGP discussion board by following the appropriate link on the right.