struggles

to 12th

in Spain NEIL Hodgson was given a Spanish inquisition as the chase for the World Superbike crown kick-started in Valencia today.

The Burnley rider continued where he left off at the final official test of the season by struggling at the Ricardo de Tonno circuit.

Hodgson, riding for the GSE Ducati team, finished the first free practice session 0.7 seconds off the pace set by home favourites Ruben Xaus and Gregoria Lavilla.

But there was hope on the horizon, as the first session is always used by the riders to get a feel for the track.

And it was no surprise that the riders with the greater knowledge of this twisty, difficult circuit, were setting the pace in cool and overcast conditions.

Team owner Darrell Healey said: "We were a couple of seconds off the pace early on but we haven't started to fine tune the bike yet."

Hodgson was annoyed with his previous display at Valencia, when a disastrous final day of testing left him down the field as the 15th fastest rider in February.

He finished today's session as 12th fastest with a time of one minute 37.772 seconds, while Xaus, the rider being groomed for success by Carl Fogarty, was quickest in one minute 37.072.

Another newcomer to the WSB scene, Frenchman Regis Laconi was second fastest, with another Spaniard, Lavilla in third.