Briton Neil Hodgson reached the pinnacle of his 20-year career in racing when he clinched the World Superbikes title and then won Sunday’s second race at Assen.
Briton Neil Hodgson reached the pinnacle of a 20-year career in racing when he clinched the World Superbikes title and won then Sunday’s second race at Assen.
Hodgson finished second behind team-mate Ruben Xaus in the opening race of the day but the Spaniard’s victory was not enough to keep him in contention for the championship.
The Briton then turned the tables in the second race, only trailing Xaus for part of one lap during the 16 laps, before crossing the line ahead of him.
Hodgson, who became only the second Briton to win the title after Carl Fogarty, was 140 points ahead of Xaus prior to the first race and only had to finish fifth to clinch the title.
Pierfrancesco Chili, who had started on pole, finished third, with James Toseland fourth. Hodgson seemed set to clinch the title in style with a victory when he took an early lead at the Dutch circuit.
He was passed early on by Spaniards Gregorio Lavilla and Ruben Xaus, but took the lead back by the halfway stage when Lavilla crashed out.
That left him to fight out a thrilling battle with Xaus, and he eventually settled for second place behind the Spaniard.
Hodgson was more relieved than elated after his success: “It was such a tough race. I’ve been so relaxed all weekend, but I was so tense in the race.
“I rode like a novice, I just could not relax,” he said. “I wanted to be world champion so bad. Twenty years of racing… it’s taken such a long time to get here.
“I was enjoying the race, I was just annoyed I was riding so bad. It’s the biggest thing ever, winning the world title,” he added.
