Hodgson second in tests

Neil Hodgson finished the final session of the three day AMA Superbike test at Daytona second on the time sheets, with a time of 1:40.711.

British former MotoGP rider and World Superbike champion Hodgson was visiting the circuit for the first time since 1995 when he rode a privateer Ducati 998, but adjusted to the track changes made since then on his Parts Unlimited Ducati Austin 999. Hodgson’s team-mate Eric Bostrom finished ninth with 1:42.003.

The only rider to claim a faster time was Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies, who surprised everyone with a time of 1:39.701.

Over the three days, Spies was top, followed by Suzuki team-mate Mat Mladin, who sat out the final day after a crash on Tuesday. Neil Hodgson claimed third quickest overall, with Aaron Yates and Miguel Duhamel rounding out the top five.

Wednesday Daytona times:

B Spies, Suzuki GSX-R1000 1:39.701.

N Hodgson, Ducati 999, 1:40.711.

J DiSalvo, Yamaha, 1:40.816.

A Yates, Suzuki, 1:40.820.

M Duhamel, Honda, 1:41.206.

J Zemke, Honda, 1:41.295.

D Buckmaster, Yamaha, 1:41.363

T Hayden, Kawasaki 1:41.820.

E Bostrom, Ducati, 1:42.003.

R Hayden, Kawasaki 1:42.109.

Overall times:

Spies, 1:39.701

Mladin, 1:40.309

Hodgson, 1:40.711

Yates, 1:40.820

Duhamel, 1:40.987