GixerGaz
19-06-2007, 09:08
http://www.gixerjunkies.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=10940&stc=1&d=1182240527
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Former World and British Superbike champion, Neil Hodgson, will test for Rizla Suzuki at Cadwell Park on Wednesday and Thursday (June 20-21).
The out-of-work Isle of Man resident has been drafted in to try to boost the team's competitiveness after a difficult start to the season. The 2000 BSB champion and 2003 WSBK champion is no stranger to tight twisty tracks, like Cadwell, after spending two years on the challenging circuits of the AMA Superbike Championship. Without a race seat for 2007, the 34-year-old has recently been used by former employer Ducati as a test and development rider.
"I am thrilled and excited to have the opportunity to test the Rizla Suzuki," said Hodgson. "My aim is to use my experience to give Rizla Suzuki another opinion or direction on the performance of its race bikes. I've been keeping in shape and I am sharp so I can't wait to get going."
Rizla Suzuki's regular riders, 2006 WSBK race winner Chris Walker and reigning BSS champion Cal Crutchlow, will not be attending the test - but will be keeping close tabs on Hodgson's progress through team manager Simon Buckmaster.
Buckmaster hasn't hidden his disappointment at Walker's form so far this year, but insisted that Hodgson - who turned down the Rizla ride to pursue a WSBK seat for 2007 - has been drafted in simply to help the team develop, rather than as a potential replacement.
"I have always maintained that Rizla Suzuki will use every means at its disposal to be as competitive as possible and Neil testing our bike and giving us a fresh opinion is simply another approach to improving performance," he explained. "We hope that we can come away from Cadwell Park with new direction and improved performance for us to take to Knockhill and the seventh round of the championship in just over a week's time."
Article and photo copyright of www.crash.net
http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/view/246217.jpg
Former World and British Superbike champion, Neil Hodgson, will test for Rizla Suzuki at Cadwell Park on Wednesday and Thursday (June 20-21).
The out-of-work Isle of Man resident has been drafted in to try to boost the team's competitiveness after a difficult start to the season. The 2000 BSB champion and 2003 WSBK champion is no stranger to tight twisty tracks, like Cadwell, after spending two years on the challenging circuits of the AMA Superbike Championship. Without a race seat for 2007, the 34-year-old has recently been used by former employer Ducati as a test and development rider.
"I am thrilled and excited to have the opportunity to test the Rizla Suzuki," said Hodgson. "My aim is to use my experience to give Rizla Suzuki another opinion or direction on the performance of its race bikes. I've been keeping in shape and I am sharp so I can't wait to get going."
Rizla Suzuki's regular riders, 2006 WSBK race winner Chris Walker and reigning BSS champion Cal Crutchlow, will not be attending the test - but will be keeping close tabs on Hodgson's progress through team manager Simon Buckmaster.
Buckmaster hasn't hidden his disappointment at Walker's form so far this year, but insisted that Hodgson - who turned down the Rizla ride to pursue a WSBK seat for 2007 - has been drafted in simply to help the team develop, rather than as a potential replacement.
"I have always maintained that Rizla Suzuki will use every means at its disposal to be as competitive as possible and Neil testing our bike and giving us a fresh opinion is simply another approach to improving performance," he explained. "We hope that we can come away from Cadwell Park with new direction and improved performance for us to take to Knockhill and the seventh round of the championship in just over a week's time."
Article and photo copyright of www.crash.net