With the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship descending on Donington Park for Round 5 of the 2024 season, it was a chance to catch up with some familiar faces in the paddock. One of these was 2003 Champion Neil Hodgson, who spoke during Free Practice 1 for the Prosecco DOC UK Round about twin brothers Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) plus his memories of Donington, a circuit he said, “saved his career”.
ALEX’S FORM: “it’s like he has matured and is comfortable in his own skin”
Alex Lowes has had an incredible start to the season, taking two wins in Australia, podiums in three of the four rounds so far and only once being outside the top six – when he crashed at Assen. With the ZX-10RR package clearly taking a step up from last season, Hodgson discussed the Provec Racing-run outfit as well as the #22’s form, believing the Brit is riding better than he ever has in WorldSBK after his strong start to 2024.
On the step made by Kawasaki and the rider he manages, Hodgson said: “Do you know what I love about the Kawasaki team? It is essentially the same bike but they never give up and are constantly working to improve an already incredible bike. They have made steps this year and so has Alex, who is riding better than he ever has. It is like he has matured and is comfortable in his own skin, he loves that team and they love him so yeah, he is riding better than I have ever seen him.”
BIG THINGS TO COME FOR SAM? “the timing of his home race is good, it’s a track he knows well and loves”
For Alex’s twin, Sam, it’s a first WorldSBK home round following his switch from Moto2™ at the end of last season. The #14 has had a good start to his maiden campaign, often fighting towards the front and leading laps, although he is yet to stand on the rostrum. Hodgson gave his view on the WorldSBK rookie, believing the UK Round is coming at a good time and that he’s hopeful the Brit will have his best weekend of the season so far.
Discussing Sam’s weekend, Hodgson said: “Definitely no tips that I can give him as the lap times are off the scale. For Sam, I think the timing of his home race is good at this track as it is one that he knows well and loves. Also, the Pirelli tyres work well on a cold track so Sam has been struggling with the Pirelli tyres on a hot track which are really greasing. I think the timing is good as it is one of his favourite tracks but I guess the only negative is that there are no long straights which is normally the Ducati’s strength but I expect Sam to hopefully have his best weekend so far.”
MEMORIES OF DONINGTON: “this track saved my career!”
Hodgson’s first of 16 WorldSBK wins came at Donington Park when he won Race 2 in 2000. He’d go on to win two races there, winning again in Race 1 in 2001. His career highlight came in 2003 when he claimed the World Championship, but he revealed that he believed Donington saved his career as he would be able to score strong results – he was on the podium in half his races there and only outside the top ten twice – consistently at the circuit.
Expanding on his memories of Donington, Hodgson said: “What a place this is! It is a superb track it is great for World Superbike, and I have a lot of great memories here. This track saved my career as I had so many years where it wasn’t happening, and I would turn up at Donington and for whatever reason the magic would work round here, and it saved my job.”
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Source: WorldSBK.com