Another win puts Hodgson in position of strength

Neil Hodgson took a win and a second place here yesterday to retain his British Championship lead after 18 of 24 rounds. It was Hodgson's fifth win in the domestic series and puts him in a position of strength for the final six races of the season.

Neil Hodgson took a win and a second place here yesterday to retain his British Championship lead after 18 of 24 rounds. It was Hodgson's fifth win in the domestic series and puts him in a position of strength for the final six races of the season.

Niall Mackenzie had a day of mixed fortunes, finishing fourth in the first race and 17th in the second, after a crash on the warm-up lap. Hodgson and Mackenzie made good starts to the first race, slotting into second and fifth respectively. Hodgson soon closed down early leader Chris Walker, before passing him at Park Corner on lap eight and pulling out a half-a-second gap.

He retained this advantage to take take his fifth victory of the domestic series and stretch his championship lead.

Mackenzie was forced to take evasive action when James Haydon crashed his Ducati in front of him. This cost the Scot valuable time and he was unable to catch the leading trio, eventually finishing in fourth, picking up 13 championship points.

His luck deserted him before the start of the second race, when he crashed his INS Ducati on the warm-up lap and had to start from the back of the pack after failing to take his spare bike down to the grid in time.

Mackenzie then proceeded to pick his way through riders, eventually finishing in 17th.

The battle at the front was similar to the first race, with Walker leading for the first nine laps before a mistake at the Old Hairpin handed the advantage to Hodgson, who went out in front on the start/finish straight. Hodgson defended this lead throughout the remainder of the race until the final lap, when he came across back markers - including his team-mate - on the woodland section of the track and Walker forced his way through a gap and stole the victory by just 0.143 seconds.

"That was a great race, even though I didn't get the win," said Hodgson. "I came across three back markers, including Niall, on the final lap, which made things difficult because I didn't think there was anywhere to pass. I went to dive up the inside of Niall, but Chris was on the inside of me on the wet line, so I had nowhere to go. Fair play to him, because it was a brave move, and we now leave Cadwell Park in the same position that we arrived here."