25 Years of World Superbike: Hodgson and Crafar
Two more World Superbike legends were added to the SBK Hall of Fame just before the start of race 1 on Sunday at the TT Assen circuit. Championship director Paolo Ciabatti was present in parc fermé to hand out medals to the pair, who still form part of the Superbike environment, albeit in different roles.
For Neil Hodgson the choice of Assen is not a coincidence as the British rider conquered the title in 2003, five rounds before the end of the season, on his factory Fila Ducati 999 F03. The Burnley man, the second Brit to take the title after Carl Fogarty, took part in WSB from the mid-90s to 2003, and can count on a total of 147 presences, 41 podiums, 16 poles and the same number of wins. Signed by the factory Ducati team as an emerging talent alongside Fogarty, he then had a couple of disappointing years with Kawasaki before going back to Britain to compete in BSB with Ducati GSE Racing: 1999 was his learning year, and in 2000 he won the title as well as the British WSB rounds at Donington Park and Brands Hatch as a wild-card. With these credentials Hodgson returned to World Superbike in 2001, still with GSE Racing, and was by far the best private/satellite Ducati rider. Third place overall in 2002 (and a win at Donington in 2001) earned him a place in Fila Ducati's championship line-up, which he honoured in fine style by winning the first title for the new 999. Hodgson left WSB for MotoGP and then AMA, trying to become the first man to win three different Superbike titles (World, British and American), but a bad shoulder injury forced him into retirement in April 2010. Neil now forms part of the WSB commentary team for British Eurosport.
Simon Crafar on the other hand, is currently making available his skills and ability for the European Junior Cup, as ‘coach' for the 14 to 19 year-olds on identical KTM machinery who take part in eight European rounds in the WSB support category. Present since the early days (two wild-cards in 1989 at Sugo and Manfeild, his home circuit), the New Zealand rider raced on factory Honda and Kawasaki machinery from 1994-97, taking 10 podiums and 1 pole position, finishing 5th overall in 1994 (with Honda Rumi) and in 1997 (Kawasaki). He took part in his final race for the Akashi manufacturer in 2000 at Hockenheim, the 123rd of his career, twice finishing in the points. Appreciated for his talent, experience and professionalism, Crafar is a perfect ambassador for World Superbike from the southern hemisphere, and also fully deserves his place in the SBK Hall of Fame.
