Neil Hodgson has announced his retirement from racing

[jonny hurlock]

http://www.crash.net/british+superbikes/news/159002/1/neil_hodgson_announces_retirement.html

http://moto.gpupdate.net/en/motogp-news/233121/hodgson-announces-retirement-from-racing/

its a shame imo,

[Rod Richardson]

Unfortunate loss to the sport of a guy who has given it his all.

Unfortunately I didn't see any WSBK races the year Neil won the championship and one or two on this forum don't rate that year very highly. I always enjoyed watching him race. Best of luck for the future Neil.

[TheFamousEccles]

Never rated him, but to finish first, first you must finish, I s'pose. I hope he has a good life after racing.

[Rod Richardson]

From http://bikeracenews.com/

Ian Lowry to replace Neil Hodgson.

Ian Lowry
“It’s a great shame for Neil, I like many young racers followed Neil through his career and I am sure he is feeling pretty rubbish right now, I am sure he knows he has made the right decision and I hope he can come and help Dan and I through the year. So what a phone call that was! Rob called me a few weeks ago and asked if I could test the bike with no real plans just yet, I jumped on a plane and rode the bike at Oulton and really got on well, it’s a crap way to get a ride when a rider get’s injured but that’s racing. For me I can’t wait to get to Oulton Park next week and get stuck in!”

[patnicholls]

Regrettable but I guess unsurprising after injuring himself out in America - something of a wilderness time for him really in an unequal struggle against those Suzukis - and then doing it in again straight away at Brands.

As for the rest - well undoubtedly 2003 wasn't a strong year for WSB but you've got to be there to win it, but in 2002 he was the only one near Edwards and Bayliss and on different tyres, and beat Haga (who was admittedly Aprilia-mounted I think). Not to mention that with GSE he was the lead man and James Toseland was the apprentice at the time - and while James has clearly come on leaps and bounds since, Neil was at his peak pretty much as quick as anyone out there.

I wish him all the best in his retirement.

[markabilly]

Shame actually.
I thought he deserved better than being relegated to the USA racing by Duc