Neil Hodgson proved he is back in World Superbike with a point to prove after the 27-year-old took his 2000 Ducati and Dunlop Superpole tire to the fastest time of the four-day test at Kyalami, South Africa last week. Not only will Hodgson take over the vacancy left in British fans' hearts by Carl Fogarty's retirement but also the hopes of the locals in Lancashire. No sooner had Blackburn seen the departure of its favorite son Fogarty from the championship than Hodgson - from eight miles down the road in Burnley - emerged as the successor. 

Two years - 1996 and 1997 - with Ducati and the 1998 season with Kawasaki taught Hodgson his chances had come to soon. After two years in the British Superbike championship, taking the title in 2000, Hodgson admitted his World Superbike entrance came too early in his career. He confirmed this, following up wildcard victories last year with a Kyalami fastest lap last week that was a staggering 1.8 seconds inside Fogarty's 10-month old lap record. 

If Hodgson has matured sufficiently, he will recognize that his Kyalami pre-season test lap will ultimately count for nothing towards the 2001 title - that too is the one consolation for the opposition. 

Troy Bayliss - one of the title favorites - continued the development of the 2001 Ducati with the second fastest time. 

The Australian will be satisfied with his Kyalami efforts, himself 0.5 second faster than Corser's Superpole lap for a dramatic opening round pole position last April. 
 

Corser himself bruised an ankle in a final day crash at the test only after recording his best lap. 
 
 

Convinced of his improvement this year is Ducati's Ben Bostrom. Reunited with Dunlop tires the 26-year-old, also armed with a 2001 machine, oozed confidence throughout the test and, despite a couple of falls, is ready to prove his worth in the championship after a turbulent debut season in 2000. 

Suzuki's Pier-Francesco Chili was immediately on the pace with the new machine - the first of the four-cylinder machines in the Kyalami times. 
 
 
 

Chili may soon be looking over his shoulder in the Coronas Alstare garage after Superbike newcomer Stephane Chambon lapped just 1.3 seconds behind his team-mate. It may seem a lot to make up, but a year ago Corser was three seconds off the pace in the opening Phillip Island test, his debut on Aprilia. Later in the season, he almost won the title.

Two years ago at Phillip Island it was Chili, then making the switch from Ducati to Suzuki and Michelin to Dunlop who was equally as slow (both went on to win races in their respective years on new machinery!). 

Playing it cool at Kyalami was World Superbike champion American Colin Edwards II. The 26-year-old Texan completed a four-day test in the previous week, then took in the first day and a half of the official test. 

With little effort Edwards tested five potential new Superpole tires, one of which gave him his best lap of the six days. 

Team-mate to Bostrom and Bayliss, Spaniard Ruben Xaus may use the Corse team's supply of bodywork if Kyalami was any guide. Two high speed crashes at the same corner confirmed the youngster's aggression had not been lost over the winter months. Not intending to give up time to learning, Xaus was immediately into his familiar style, which is destined to earn him a worldwide following - although not maybe from Michelin if he slides the rear on race rubber as often as he did at Kyalami. 

Edwards' new team-mate Tady Okada showed a lack of fitness after a winter of concentrating on preparing himself and overcoming the effects of two big crashes in 2000. The Japanese rider was eighth best, but recorded his best lap looking ill at ease - an obvious talent evident even though his desire to succeed will remain a mystery until the season fires into action at Valencia on March 11.

ENDS

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