This decision has not come easy and it was only yesterday Wednesday 21st that an examination in Manchester by a leading shoulder specialist made clear the amount of damage done and the time scale needed to recover. The 2000 BSB Champion and 2003 World Superbike Champion started the 2010 BSB season as one of the favourites, with the Motorpoint Yamaha Neil had a successful winter test and was relishing the challenge of returning to his old hunting ground and battling with some of the new names in the most competitive domestic superbike series in the world. A crash at the first round aggravated the shoulder injury and set back all the hard work he had done. For the last three weeks Neil has undergone a series of tests and seen several specialists hoping for a positive direction, but after yesterday’s results the reality hit and he has had to make the difficult decision to retire from the sport. Neil Hodgson “To be honest I’m still pretty shell shocked from Brands, when you start the season you know you’re going to have to take a few knocks but the very first time I slide off I land straight on my shoulder! I knew it was bad, I have lived with it all last year and got to understand the level of weakness and recovery. I had more work to do but was really happy with the progress, riding the bike was the best therapy but also the biggest risk. I am gutted obviously, I had a plan to come back to the UK and have some fun with Rob and his team, It will take time for me to come to terms with this but it is the right decision. My shoulder will get back to probably 90% over the next couple of years so I will be able to have a normal life. For all my fans and all the supporters who have been with me over the years I want to thank them all, Rob’s team and sponsors for this year I really am sorry I could not fulfil our plans, the Motorpoint guy’s and all Rob’s team have been great and I hope to be part of their success this year” More, from a press release issued by Rob Mac Racing/Motorpoint Yamaha: Ian Lowry will replace Neil Hodgson and partner Dan Linfoot in the Motorpoint Yamaha Superbike team. With the devastating news that Neil Hodgson has been forced to retire through injury Rob Mac wasted no time in signing Ian Lowry. Rob Mac “We have been working closely with Neil since Brands Hatch and have known the injury was career threatening, to lose Neil like this has been tough to take, the whole team had been put together with Neil and Dan. The buzz around our team and sponsors has been great and the expectations of a great season were justified. As a team we all feel for Neil, he will be around with the team helping our riders and sponsors so he can’t put his feet up just yet. For me I had to find a replacement fast, Ian Lowry being available is a real coup for us and the BSB Championship. He finished ‘rookie’ of the year in the Superbike class of 2009 and at only 23 years will line up as one of the most exciting young talents on the grid. We managed to give him a run last week and will test Friday this week, he has a lot to learn in a short time but is very confident in himself and our bike” Ian Lowry “It’s a great shame for Neil, I like many young racers followed Neil through his career and I am sure he is feeling pretty rubbish right now, I am sure he knows he has made the right decision and I hope he can come and help Dan and I through the year. So what a phone call that was! Rob called me a few weeks ago and asked if I could test the bike with no real plans just yet, I jumped on a plane and rode the bike at Oulton and really got on well, it’s a crap way to get a ride when a rider get’s injured but that’s racing. For me I can’t wait to get to Oulton Park next week and get stuck in!”