Post by BADGER on Apr 27, 2007 19:41:32 GMT
Neil Hodgson wants to see electronic gizmos banned from Moto GP after riding Ducati’s 2007-spec machine for the first time behind closed doors at Oschersleben in Germany.
Speaking after the test, British rider Hodgson, 33, who has become the Italian manufacturer's chief test rider in the wake of Shinichi Ito's hip-breaking accident, said he thinks the likes of traction control should be outlawed.
"To be honest, I'm not a fan of the new generation of bikes with all the electronic devices, and it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world [if they were banned]," Hodgson, who last raced in Moto GP for the d'Antin Ducati squad in 2004.
Before you always had to be careful to make sure you balance the power on the way out of corners, but now you just floor it and it sticks. You don't have to stand the bike up on the exits like you used to."
Hodgson made his name in Moto GP in the mid-1990s on a privateer Yamaha without any electronic gadgets before moving to Superbikes, where he claimed the British title in 2000 and then the world crown three years later.
After two unsuccessful years in the US-based AMA Superbike Series on a gadget-free Ducati, Hodgson returned to Europe, netting the Ducati test ride last month.
He reckons the Bridgestone-tyred GP07 to be the best bike he has ridden, although he admits that in itself, could cause problems in the future.
"It's the best bike I have ever ridden by a long way. It's electronics are so good, but that's a bad thing," he added.
"It will kill racing as we know it if the systems get any better, and they will get better and better as the teams keep developing them."
Hodgson has not yet been told when he will next test the GP07.
Speaking after the test, British rider Hodgson, 33, who has become the Italian manufacturer's chief test rider in the wake of Shinichi Ito's hip-breaking accident, said he thinks the likes of traction control should be outlawed.
"To be honest, I'm not a fan of the new generation of bikes with all the electronic devices, and it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world [if they were banned]," Hodgson, who last raced in Moto GP for the d'Antin Ducati squad in 2004.
Before you always had to be careful to make sure you balance the power on the way out of corners, but now you just floor it and it sticks. You don't have to stand the bike up on the exits like you used to."
Hodgson made his name in Moto GP in the mid-1990s on a privateer Yamaha without any electronic gadgets before moving to Superbikes, where he claimed the British title in 2000 and then the world crown three years later.
After two unsuccessful years in the US-based AMA Superbike Series on a gadget-free Ducati, Hodgson returned to Europe, netting the Ducati test ride last month.
He reckons the Bridgestone-tyred GP07 to be the best bike he has ridden, although he admits that in itself, could cause problems in the future.
"It's the best bike I have ever ridden by a long way. It's electronics are so good, but that's a bad thing," he added.
"It will kill racing as we know it if the systems get any better, and they will get better and better as the teams keep developing them."
Hodgson has not yet been told when he will next test the GP07.