From a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

The taming of the Corkscrew

The Superbike World Championship touches down in the USA this weekend. With it comes the chance for Neil Hodgson, James Toseland and the rest of the HM Plant Ducati team to escape the cold, grey British summer for the more temperate environs of California.

The Laguna Seca circuit is a favourite of both HM Plant Ducati riders and Hodgson for one will be gunning for his first victory of the year.

“I love everything about the Laguna Seca event,” says Hodgson. “I may never have won there but I got real close last year when I came second to Ben Bostrom and then got on the podium in the other race. I’ve had other rostrum finishes there too, so I guess that it suits me. A lot of riders think that it’s dangerous, and it just might be, but it’s precisely that element of danger that makes it so good to ride – it sorts the men out from the boys.

“Right now I’m working on achieving my overall goal of finishing third in the championship. I really want to close the gap on Edwards and Bayliss and the best way to do that is by winning a few races. Laguna and Brands are my favourite tracks and I’ve had a fair amount of success at them in the past. With a little bit of luck, this should be the best month of the year so far and I’ll be doing everything within my power to make sure that I can translate this confidence into championship points.”

James Toseland has just signed a deal that will see him remain with the team for the next two seasons. The 21-year-old Yorkshireman’s 2002 form has earned him seventh place in the championship standings and he is hoping to reach new heights in America.

“Laguna is great circuit and one that I had a good result at last year, but there’s so much more that makes this round so good,” explains Toseland. “It’s always a pleasure to stay in the Monterey area because the climate is perfect for training as well as racing and the people are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the sport. I’m really glad that my future is secure with HM Plant Ducati and I really want to show the whole team how much it means to me by scoring my best result of the year.”

2001 results
Race one:
1. B. Bostrom (Ducati) 40:32.161; 2. N. Hodgson (GSE Racing Ducati) +1.337; 3. T. Corser (Aprilia) +2.923; 10. J. Toseland (GSE Racing Ducati) +37.617

Race two:
1. B. Bostrom (Ducati) 40:31.320; 2. T. Corser (Aprilia) +2.360; 3 N. Hodgson (GSE Racing Ducati) +15.310; 7. J. Toseland (GSE Racing Ducati) +19.079