There has been some talk linking Aaron the the new GSE Ducati team with Hodgson. If Ducati's new 998 engine is as hot as the stories say, that might really set the cat among the pigeons. They are using the same chassis and it seems to me most problems with new bikes in WSB seem to revolve around handling. When you consider the surgery that Aaron had (most people wouldn't have their road license back now, let alone be racing!)he has done really well this year. He's definitely been on the pace and just lacking the final 1% required to be challenging for the lead. I'm sure he will be faster after an off-season rest, but will Okada? If the other rumours are true and he goes car racing I wish him good luck and hope he does it in Aussie V8 Supercars so I can watch him on NZ TV. Wayne Gardner was a hard charger in that series with his biggest problem being that the old hands seemed to get a real kick out of giving a World Champion a nudge on the rump to send him spinning into the gravel.
Good Luck Aaron, wherever you end up!