Hodgson Signs With McElnea

Cycle News Staff | November 11, 2009

Brit Neil Hodgson won’t be returning to the AMA Superbike Series next year after signing a contract with Rob McElnea’s Motorpoint Yamaha team to ride an R1 in next year’s British Superbike Series.

Hodgson, who’s final season of AMA racing on the Corona Honda team was ruined by an early season motocross crash that left him with a badly injured shoulder, will ride for the former Grand Prix star’s British-based Yamaha team

“I’ve got a lot of passion in me and I know Rob does too,” Hodsgson told England’s Motor Cycle News. “And I always wanted to come back to race for a team boss who shared that same intense passion as me. Now I’ve got that opportunity. My career’s not gone quite to plan over the past couple of years and I know that recently Rob’s career plan as a team manager hasn’t either. The only reason I’m back racing in BSB next year is to win the title. I want to win the title for myself and for Rob’s team. They’ve put a lot of hard work in over the years and deserve some reward for that. I hope we can be successful and all have big smiles on our faces.”