PARTS UNLIMITED DUCATI’S HODGSON TO FIGHT FOR REPEAT ELKHART LAKE VICTORY Elkhart Lake (Wisconsin): Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin is the site of this weekend’s AMA Superbike doubleheader and the Parts Unlimited Ducati team will return to the track for the eighth and ninth races of the year. Riders Neil Hodgson and Ben Bostrom will compete on their Ducati 999 Superbikes at the 4.0-mile circuit, considered one of the best in America. The Road America circuit boasts each type of turn, from slow 90-degree bends to long sweepers to high speed sections. There are long straights which allow for drafting, including the run to the start-finish line that has seen a considerable number of close finishes in the 50-plus years of racing at the circuit. Several Ducati-mounted riders have won at Road America over the years, including Doug Polen, Pascal Picotte, Anthony Gobert, and Neil Hodgson. Hodgson won in Elkhart Lake last season with a thrilling ride in the wet. Neil braved a torrential downfall to win on his Ducati 999 Superbike, using his skills to tame the mighty L-twin horsepower in what he described as the worst conditions he has raced in during his illustrious career. “Last year was a great win for the team and me, but I hope it stays dry this time,” laughed Hodgson, the 2003 World Champion. “The test at Utah went well for us, too. I’m not sure exactly how much of that will translate to Road America because no two circuits are exactly the same. I do like the Road America track and am looking forward to the races.” Ben Bostrom says he is more confident after the successful test at Miller Motorsports Park in Utah. Bostrom was quickest at the test and says he and the crew benefited greatly. “It was good to get the track time, to try some different settings on the 999 that we really don’t have a chance to try during a hectic race weekend. For us, it’s on now. We feel we can be much more competitive,” said Bostrom, the 1998 AMA Superbike champion. “I’ve never been that lucky at Elkhart before, but we feel good about things.” Getting Bostrom and Hodgson plenty of track time in recent weeks should help the team’s fortunes, says Team manager Tom Bodenbach. “We had the Fontana and Infineon races, then the test in Utah. The boys have been able to ride pretty much every week for a while and that’s good,” said Bodenbach. “This weekend, we’ll try to see how what we’ve learned translates to Road America. We’re excited about competing.” The AMA schedule calls for 16-lap Superbike races on Saturday and Sunday. The Circuit: Located in the Wisconsin countryside, the 4.0-mile (6.43 kilometer), 14-turn Road America circuit is in many ways a European-style track. There are several long straights for the powerful Superbikes to reach top speeds, each with a 90 degree turn at the end that prove to be great passing zones. Road America also features turns like The Carousel and The Kink, which was altered several years ago to improve safety. AMA Superbike points (after seven races): 1. Ben Spies, Suzuki 257 2. Mat Mladin, Suzuki 227 3. Miguel Duhamel, 198 4. Neil Hodgson, Parts Unlimited Ducati 183 5. Aaron Yates, Suzuki 179 6. Tommy Hayden, Kawasaki 173 7. Ben Bostrom, Parts Unlimited Ducati 168 8. Jake Zemke, Honda 156 9. Jason Pridmore, Suzuki 148 10. Larry Pegram, Honda 133