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AMA SBK: Daytona Tire Test: Saturday Afternoon Notebook
Written by: Chris Martin   
12/06/2008
Daytona Beach, FL
 
Neil Hodgson (Photo: Brian J Nelson) ยป More Photos

Hodgson: 'We Need to Find Another Second'

While American Honda's Neil Hodgson has been consistently guiding his '09-spec American Superbike around Daytona International Speedway a good second to two seconds quicker than anyone else this weekend, he figures he's going to need to find another second or so in order to be in the hunt when the laps really matter.

Hodgson is actually putting in his second test on the American Superbike-spec CBR1000RR, having recently completed an outing at Barber Motorsports Park.

Asked to compare the machine with his '08 AMA Superbike, he explained, "The bike just feels less aggressive, I guess. Last year's Superbike was a bit of handful and this just feels easier to ride. It's not as (angry) I guess. And it feels a little bit plusher. The Öhlins front end that we had in it was probably a bit harsher than this motorcycling. It's a bit nicer to ride.

"The Barber test went really good and I'm glad we got some time in there. Riding around Daytona never feels like fun to be honest because there is no grip on the infield. I understand the reason why that, but it's not much fun. It was nice to ride on a proper track at Barber and really understand what the bike is doing. It sort of gets confusing riding around here because everything feels rubbish -- there's no grip and the bike just
feels pretty alien."

Hodgson views the rules reboot as an opportunity to play catch-up. "I'm pretty sure (Suzuki) will be racing next year and they'll be the team to beat and Mat (Mladin) will be the guy to beat. But the rules seem to be working in our favor -- we ran this bike last year really with some different forks in it. And the Superstock Honda last year was really competitive, so we're excited about it.

"There's a lot of work to be done though. I think we need to be about a second-a-lap faster to be close to having anything for the Suzukis.

"I know roughly what I need to be doing in terms of a benchmark, but I'm disappointed everyone isn't here at this test. It's a strange atmosphere. We want to measure up against the best riders and teams, but right now it's us and Yamaha riding around at the moment. Larry (Pegram) is doing a great job on his bike actually, but I don't know what backing he's got. It looks like him and his dad. Credit to him really."

Hodgson is focused on his Superbike effort, but admits he'd like another crack at the Daytona 200 after winning the pole for the event last year.

"I'd love to be actually. I rode the old track once back in '95 and really enjoyed. I enjoyed my experience of doing the 200 last year and this year under the lights should be a real spectacle."


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