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DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY |
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NEIL HODGSON TAKES SECOND IN THRILLING DAYTONA SUPERBIKE SERIES OPENER
Hodgson qualified the Corona Honda CBR1000RR on the front row in fourth in the new-for-’09 Superpole session. At the green flag Neil was at the front of the pack taking second behind leader Mladin. Mladin had opened up a second lead but could not break away further form the pair behind who closed towards the finish and what a finish it was with Hodgson making the draft work to his advantage and edging Hayden by half a tire at the stripe - a photo finish by one one-thousandth of a second! After the race an elated Hodgson said, "I was definitely pleased with that. It's nice to be battling for a win. I've not had that opportunity for the last few years. When I was in the lead I thought I could win the race. I knew Mat (Mladin) was probably not in 100% condition and, it's such a funny place, Daytona. Neil credited his crew for putting in long hours to get the bike ready and allowing him to ‘do his job!’ Hodgson is currently second in the Superbike points standing. Corona Extra Honda Racing is proud to be partnering with: |
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On lap six Neil moved into the lead, holding it through lap seven when he was passed by Mladin and Ducati’s Pegram. He got back into second on lap ten and came under pressure from Suzuki’s Hayden who took the position on lap fourteen - but with Hodgson right on his tail. 
Your tire can just start going down and there's nothing you can do about it once it starts spinning. I could see Larry's (Pegram) tire go off pretty much. And I thought that could happen to Mat. And when I got the lead, I'm thinking, 'I'll just go as fast as I can."