US MotoGP: AMA: Neil Hodgson fifth, Ellison tenth, Chaz Davies retires

Neil Hodgson made an impressive return to racing with fifth place in the AMA Superbike race as part of the US MotoGP weekend at Laguna Seca, with James Ellison tenth.

The race was won by Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies, taking the win from team-mate Mat Mladin, who had to fight his way up from sixth after a bad start. Behind the Suzuki duo was a three-way battle for third, with Neil Hodgson holding the final podium spot from Miguel DuHamel and Aaron Yates until a mistake passing backmarkers dropped him to fifth. Yates took third for the first ever podium for the Jordan Suzuki team of basketball legend Michael Jordan.

Hodgson’s Corona Xtreme Honda team-mate, James Ellison put on a late charge to finish in the top ten, behind Eric Bostrom, and in front of former World Superbike star Ben Bostrom.

The AMA Supersport race on Saturday saw MotoGP wildcard Roger Lee Hayden battle all race to take the win from Graves Yamaha rider Josh Herrin on the last lap. Steve Rapp took third. Meanwhile Chaz Davies was in sixth place on the Celtic Racing Yamaha R6 until he was forced to retire with mechanical failure on lap 12.