Hodgson to race in US

Neil Hodgson has been switched from MotoGP to the US Superbike championship by Ducati, while WSB champion and newly-crowned MCN Man of the Year James Toseland has been confirmed as a Ducati factory rider in the WSB series.

He will be joined by his 2004 team-mate Regis Laconi.

Hodgson said: “Having had a disappointing experience in MotoGP, it’s such a relief to be back where I belong whith Ducati Corse.” He raced for a satellite team in MotoGP.

“The (US) AMA Championship poses a great challenge both to me personally and to Ducati, as they haven’t won it for many years. I would like to make history by becoming the first rider ever to have won the British and World Superbike Championships and the AMA Championship.

Toseland said: “This past week has been brilliant, first winning the MCN Man of the Year award and then having my position with Ducati Corse confirmed for 2005.”

A third Ducati Corse 999 will be raced in WSB by Italian youngster Lorenzo Lanzi.

Toseland, Laconi and Lanzi will be testing in Valencia from on November 16-18 while Hodgson will test at Daytona, Florida on January 3-5.

Have Your Say. Should Hodgson have been given more time in MotoGP? Should he be back in WSB? Click here to comment.