Neil Hodgson
Taking on the world
For Neil Hodgson, 2003 was a truly unforgettable year. He joined Team Ducati Fila as an official factory rider, equalled the all-time record of nine wins in a row and became the 2003 Superbike World Champion. As Neil moves forwards to take on the challenge of the 2004 MotoGP, we take a closer look at the lead-up to last year's world victory.
NEIL started riding a TY80 when he was just five and started motocross racing by the time he was nine, before picking up the British 125cc Championship title in his first full season and moved up to the world stage in 1993 as the youngest rider in the World 125cc Championships.
Neil eventually moved into the Superbike arena and from1996 onwards pursued his dream of winning the Superbike World Championship.
His association with Team GSE Racing put his career firmly back on schedule and building upon his incredible progress with the team in their first year he then went on to a nail-biting victory in the series in 2000. GSE Racing's decision to move up to the world stage turned out to be the right one and against incredible competition Neil made fifth place in the world rankings.
Another season with GSE in World Superbikes followed in 2002 and despite not claiming any wins, Neil's performances were enough to earn him a place in the factory Ducati Fila team in the 2003 World Superbike Championship.
Neil claimed that he was just taking each race as it came in 2003, but after scoring pole position, two wins and a lap record at the first race of the season in Valencia, his hard work and British bulldog determination finally won him the 2003 World Superbike Champion title.
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