By Category winner in 2022, third in 2023, runner-up in 2024, Rob Hodson has not this decade stood off a Classic Superbike, Mountain Course race rostrum.
Now aiming to add Classic TT victory laurels to a growingly, decorated roads scene CV, the Southern 100 Super Twins lap-record holder takes on a new challenge, riding SMT by Key Racing’s 916 Ducati, having for the previous three years, rode ZXR 750 Kawasaki tackle for Greenall Racing.
Prior to setting last Thursday evening, the fastest lap-speed of qualifying ventures (127.402 mph – 17 minutes 46.140 seconds), Hodson opened despite limited testing time, bar one main test at Oulton Park in varying conditions, qualifying bursts in forthright fashion on Wednesday night, going quickest, via a ‘flying’ lap speed of 125.810 mph.
Commenting about this, the twice Manx Grand Prix winner, stated:
“Half decent first lap managed to get cracking on the second lap.
There were just a few little things like the clutch lever position, the gear lever position, all that kind of stuff that just needs to be made comfortable for me, the set-up could have been better so to come away with nearly 126 was fantastic.”
Hodson then detailed the main differences between current yesteryear Ducati SBK and previously mentioned, former ZXR 750 Kawasaki equipment.
“So, the biggest difference I think is just how much-torque it has out of the corners.
Obviously, it is a bigger capacity but less cylinders, so that helps massively up from Ramsey Hairpin all the way up to corners like Waterworks and up the Gooseneck, it just pulls like mad, you can really gain some-time there.
We’ve not got the chassis set-up perfect just yet, it’s tipping in a bit too fast in a couple of areas so it handles more like a Super Twin, like a 650 at the TT than a big-bike which the ZXR feels like, so that’s the biggest differences so far.”
Post this week’s Classic TT racing forays, the ‘130 Mph Club’ member is aiming to conclude his 2025 roads season at the Oliver’s Mount, Steve Henshaw Gold Cup (entered on SMT Racing Supersport/Super Twin bikes and Key Racing Ducati) and the Macau Grand Prix.
When asked how 2026 racing plans are looking, the Wigan speedster issued strong hints about another season with Robin Croft’s SMT Racing team.
“At this very moment, we are still on for SMT Racing, everything is looking good with that, Robin Croft is backing us again up to now with a couple of new bikes coming and things like that, so that is all looking good.
So, unless anything dramatic changes we will be with SMT again and same for the Macau Grand Prix, our entry’s in for that, so we will be aiming to get over there and have another run around there.”
Words by Stevie Rial #dontletfearcontrolyou
