Yukio on the mend

Factory Suzuki rider Yukio Kagayama will crush Neil Hodgson’s hopes of a dramatic World Superbike return at Donington Park next month.

Hodgson has been linked with a replacement ride on Suzuki’s GSX-R1000 but Kagayama is confident that he will be fit to return to action at Donington to partner Italian Max Biaggi.

He has been released from hospital and is now recuperating in a Melbourne hotel and Australian doctors have given the Japanese rider clearance to fly home on Friday.

And he will take part in a test session next week at Valencia despite fears that he could face a lengthy spell on the sidelines following a massive crash at last weekend’s Phillip Island World Superbike round.

A source said: “Yukio is fine but just bored. He’s just in his hotel room in Melbourne surfing the internet and talking on his phone.”