FORMER British Superbike Champion Neil Hodgson made a nightmare start to his return to the UK racing scene after crashing heavily in the warm-up for Monday's opening round of the 2010 BSB championship at Brands Hatch.
Hodgson, 36, a former world superbike champion aggravated an old shoulder injury when the Burnley ace highsided his Motorpoint Yamaha R1, failing to make the start of either of Monday's races.
“It definitely wasn’t the way I wanted to start, that’s for sure,” said Hodgson. “I just high-sided on the exit of Graham Hill Bend and down I went.
“I had done an out lap and I went to turn the throttle and I just did it in the worst possible place.
“The tyre was cold on the left side and as I got on the power it just threw me over the bars.
“I came down quite heavily on my left shoulder, which now just feels really sore. I also have a bit of a hole in my knee as it must have caught the bike.”
Prior to the accident, Hodgson's qualifying session was also turning into a disaster, with the Yamaha man posting the 22nd fastest time of the session.
Hodgson will now head to Thruxton in two weeks time for round two of the 2010 Championship.
