Neil Hodgson kicking his heels in 2007. No ride still......
Discussion
No ride by the looks of things.
Neil Hodgson's manager, Roger Burnett, has claimed that Carl Fogarty could quickly complete a deal to run the former World Superbike champion this season - if he invested his own money in the project. Foggy Racing has struggled to find a sponsor to replace Petronas, casting serious doubt on the team's participation in the 2007 championship, while Hodgson - an AMA SBK rider for the past two seasons - is desperately searching for a WSBK seat after being overlooked by long time employer Ducati.
While the two Britons have exchanged bitter words in recent years, each appears ready to bury the hatchet for a marriage of convenience - 2003 world champion Hodgson would provide King Carl's team with the potential to win races (depending on the machinery) plus plenty of sponsor-friendly publicity, while Foggy now represents Hodgson's best chance of racing for a top level team. However, nothing will happen unless money is found and, with time fast running out before the new season starts in Qatar on February 24, Burnett believes that four-times world champion Foggy funding the project out of his own pocket is one of the last remaining options - but doubts it will happen.
"The only real problem is just the money issues," Burnett told people.co.uk. "We all know that Carl Fogarty is able to fund the project himself should he wish to. But having said that he's not very good at getting his hand in his pocket so I can't see that happening.
"The money that Fogarty has earned out of his Petronas contract for the last four years could be re-invested. One year of that money could be enough for this thing to happen. But I can't see that he's up for it."
While putting pressure on Fogarty to find the funds, Burnett didn't state whether Hodgson is also prepared to help bankroll the project - for example by riding for a wage well below his worth, as Carlos Checa is believed to have done to save his MotoGP career during the 2006 season - but did warn that Hodgson is facing the very real prospect of being left on the sidelines.
"Neil's situation is very, very frustrating," he admitted. "Personally, I think the chance of a ride with a new Fogarty team is looking less and less likely as time drags on.
"The only real option for Neil is to wait and see if anyone is either not performing in the series or gets injured."
Meanwhile, Hodgson's website reports that the 16-times WSBK race winner now has less than a week to reach a final decision for the 2007 season. It also reveals that the potential Foggy project could involve MV Agusta machinery and that a ride for the Klaffi team, which won a race with Alex Barros and Honda in 2006 but recently announced a year out due to a lack of sponsorship, has 'not yet been ruled out'.
"I have been riding my nuts off in America for the last two years and it seems that everybody has just forgotten about me. I just need the right opportunity because I know that I still have a world championship in me," said Neil of his current situation.
Apparently Bayliss didn't want Hodgson with him at the factory Ducati team this year (not because they don't get on) because he didn't want the challenge, which is why they have stuck with Lanzi.
Crash.net said:
Neil Hodgson's manager, Roger Burnett, has claimed that Carl Fogarty could quickly complete a deal to run the former World Superbike champion this season - if he invested his own money in the project. Foggy Racing has struggled to find a sponsor to replace Petronas, casting serious doubt on the team's participation in the 2007 championship, while Hodgson - an AMA SBK rider for the past two seasons - is desperately searching for a WSBK seat after being overlooked by long time employer Ducati.
While the two Britons have exchanged bitter words in recent years, each appears ready to bury the hatchet for a marriage of convenience - 2003 world champion Hodgson would provide King Carl's team with the potential to win races (depending on the machinery) plus plenty of sponsor-friendly publicity, while Foggy now represents Hodgson's best chance of racing for a top level team. However, nothing will happen unless money is found and, with time fast running out before the new season starts in Qatar on February 24, Burnett believes that four-times world champion Foggy funding the project out of his own pocket is one of the last remaining options - but doubts it will happen.
"The only real problem is just the money issues," Burnett told people.co.uk. "We all know that Carl Fogarty is able to fund the project himself should he wish to. But having said that he's not very good at getting his hand in his pocket so I can't see that happening.
"The money that Fogarty has earned out of his Petronas contract for the last four years could be re-invested. One year of that money could be enough for this thing to happen. But I can't see that he's up for it."
While putting pressure on Fogarty to find the funds, Burnett didn't state whether Hodgson is also prepared to help bankroll the project - for example by riding for a wage well below his worth, as Carlos Checa is believed to have done to save his MotoGP career during the 2006 season - but did warn that Hodgson is facing the very real prospect of being left on the sidelines.
"Neil's situation is very, very frustrating," he admitted. "Personally, I think the chance of a ride with a new Fogarty team is looking less and less likely as time drags on.
"The only real option for Neil is to wait and see if anyone is either not performing in the series or gets injured."
Meanwhile, Hodgson's website reports that the 16-times WSBK race winner now has less than a week to reach a final decision for the 2007 season. It also reveals that the potential Foggy project could involve MV Agusta machinery and that a ride for the Klaffi team, which won a race with Alex Barros and Honda in 2006 but recently announced a year out due to a lack of sponsorship, has 'not yet been ruled out'.
"I have been riding my nuts off in America for the last two years and it seems that everybody has just forgotten about me. I just need the right opportunity because I know that I still have a world championship in me," said Neil of his current situation.
Apparently Bayliss didn't want Hodgson with him at the factory Ducati team this year (not because they don't get on) because he didn't want the challenge, which is why they have stuck with Lanzi.
FourWheelDrift said:
Apparently Bayliss didn't want Hodgson with him at the factory Ducati team this year (not because they don't get on) because he didn't want the challenge, which is why they have stuck with Lanzi.
According to Bayliss he didn't now, Bayliss has said he has spent such a nice Christmas with his family back home he even considered not returning and calling Hodgson to offer him his ride. He didn't though.
I have no idea why Ducati are sticking with Lanzi though.
I know Neil's a great rider but does anyone really think he can beat Bayliss ?
He's such a tough character I doubt he'd be bothered who else was in the team.
Having said that it seems a real shame that some teams are happy to run a second division rider who could not win a one horse race when Neil is still looking for a ride.
He's such a tough character I doubt he'd be bothered who else was in the team.
Having said that it seems a real shame that some teams are happy to run a second division rider who could not win a one horse race when Neil is still looking for a ride.
Hodgesons ok but in fairness hes not a wonderful rider, sure he won the championship and fair play to him, but where was Bayliss,Edwards,Haga etc that year?..... in another series, to tell the truth i dont think he will get a WSB ride this year as there are better alternatives that the teams are likely to go for.
I doubt he'd beat Bayliss, but he is a worldchampion and you can only beat what is put infront of you. Bayliss beat him in BSB but that was a long time ago and Toesland was seen as a weak champion due to hodgsons departure but look at him now. I personally would rather watch Bayliss vs Hodgson vs Toesland vs Corser than moto gp. The quality of skill may not be as high but the excitement level would be through the roof!
logicaly i would agree but i really just feel that hes going to perform this time,like hes been given another chance and wants to prove his worth,lets face it this guy regularly battled with Rossi a few years ago and i agree Bayliss,Haga etc are brilliant riders and like both of them but i really have a feeling that Biaggi will surprise us.
YamR1V64motion said:
Hodgesons ok but in fairness hes not a wonderful rider, sure he won the championship and fair play to him, but where was Bayliss,Edwards,Haga etc that year?..... in another series, to tell the truth i dont think he will get a WSB ride this year as there are better alternatives that the teams are likely to go for.
So you dont remember Hodgy mixing it up with Troy and Colin up the sharp end the year before they both left wsb ?
Hodgy is easily as capable as Troy, maybe not *quite* as race hungry, but certainly of equal ability.
Ducati have stitched him good and proper in my eyes.
Furyous said:
YamR1V64motion said:
Hodgesons ok but in fairness hes not a wonderful rider, sure he won the championship and fair play to him, but where was Bayliss,Edwards,Haga etc that year?..... in another series, to tell the truth i dont think he will get a WSB ride this year as there are better alternatives that the teams are likely to go for.
So you dont remember Hodgy mixing it up with Troy and Colin up the sharp end the year before they both left wsb ?
Hodgy is easily as capable as Troy, maybe not *quite* as race hungry, but certainly of equal ability.
Ducati have stitched him good and proper in my eyes.
i remembered him been about mid packish back then but i was at uni so it could have been a blur
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