Neil Hogsons No to MotoGP

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Racejumkie @ Feb 20 2007, 11:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I realize to run a team costs a grip of money but c'mon, can we give the guy alittle compensation?
what are u talkin bout! he gets fed at the hospitality unit! will race for food!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Feb 20 2007, 07:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>what are u talkin bout! he gets fed at the hospitality unit! will race for food!
Haha, hey maybe you should get a sign that says: Will Race For Food.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Feb 20 2007, 03:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think Walker has the score to settle with Hodgson, Pete

I'd love to see those two at it again.


Yeah thats what I meant!

I'd love to see them racing each other again, there would be a big point to prove on both sides. And Hodge being dropped from international racing would have a huge chip on his shoulder, just gets better!

Pete

I think if Hodge does no riding this year at all we wont see him back on the world stage again. But if he gets a chance to prove himslef this year and does alright he could get his foot back in to end his career at world level. As it stands i think he should come back to Britain, raise the profile of our championship even further and settle the rivalry of his career once and for all.

I think there are two ways to look at this. 1. Hodgson should have taken the job and marketed himself for a futuer ride. Yes he is a world champion, but he won WSBK's Ducati-cup championship after the top guys had left. So most of the teams and sponsors (and myself) think he has been overrated for sometime now. This would have been his chance to prove he has what it takes. 2. He is a world champion and he has no need to race for free and risk injury for no compensation.

What do I think? I think he should have found himself a seat racing somewhere because he runs the risk of fading into obscurity. Look at it this way he had a chance to prove his detractors wrong and start fresh with more money and a competitive ride if he did well. If he did poorly then he will know it may be time to hang up his riding boots and become a commentator. Personally I think it would be fun to see him interview Foggy and Troy Bayliss. Now we may never know.

It just sounds like D'satan was going to charge him to ride their bikes. I'd race for free, but I wouldn't want to rent a team that you already had no luck on.

JT, Biaggi, and Bayliss are all better riders than Hodgeson. I don't think we have seen the last of him but he wont win anymore world championships for sure.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Feb 20 2007, 08:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>JT, Biaggi, and Bayliss are all better riders than Hodgeson. I don't think we have seen the last of him but he wont win anymore world championships for sure.

I must agree with you Tom. I have always thought he was overrated, having said that I would love to see him prove me wrong.

I feel bad because I think Hodgson has always been one of the more respectable guys in the paddock. But come on Neil, get over yourself. This isn't the same nightmare d'Antin team that he rode for in 2004. This year features at least a little factory support, new (instead of used) machinery, and Bridgestones in comparison to Dunlops. This makes the team semi respectable and since Neil hasn't exactly set the world on fire in GPs with little other option, he should have taken the ride and hoped for the best and leveraged himself with Ducati for a ride somewhere in 2008.

I must agree with Jumkie though, to ask for his endorsement earnings is ridiculous. We would all ride for free and this and that and lots of guys pay their way to be mid pack privateers in club series and that's commendable, no question. But this is a professional and professionals don't pay to go to work.

I agree it is a little harsh to be asking for his personal sponsership money. But given the way Hodgeson badmouthed the team after having so little success you can see why he doesn't wanna do him any favours. And equally you can see why Hodge doesn't want to ride for them that badly given that hes already been there and had a pretty rough time.