AMA podium for Hodgson

Neil Hodgson has taken second place in the third round of the AMA Superbike championship at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama.

The British ex-BSB and WSB champion took fourth in the racing on Saturday, April 23, but took a fantastic second in the race on Sunday. Hodgson got away from the grid in first place on his Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin machine, but was passed by eventual race winner Mat Mladin on the first lap. A battle developed with Aaron Yates for second place, but the Suzuki rider was forced to pit for a tyre change, giving Hodgson second place on the podium.

Hodgson benefitted from a harder Dunlop tyre for Sunday’s race. “Yesterday, I lost some side grip late in the race so I decided to run a harder tyre that the others used. At least I would be in the same boat.”

The result puts Hodgson in second place in the championship. Team-mate Eric Bostrom claimed his best position of the season in fifth, with the next round at the California Speedway in Fonatana, California, this weekend.

AMA Championship standings:

1. Mat Mladin 113.

2. Neil Hodgson 91.

3. Ben Spies 87.

4. Aaron Yates 82.

5. Miguel DuHamel.

6. Eris Bostom 69.