BBC SPORT | Motorsport | Motorbikes | Hodgson aims for home glory

Neil Hodgson has his best chance to win a World Superbike race this season in his home round at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

The Ducati rider heads to the Kent track close to top form after starring in round nine in California.

Hodgson duelled with world champion and series leader Troy Bayliss during the closing laps of race two at Laguna Seca before finally finishing third behind Colin Edwards and Bayliss.

But in front of a predicted 100,000 British fans Hodgson will attempt to go one better than he did at the same venue last year, when he twice finished second behind Ben Bostrom.

Mixing it with Bayliss and Edwards has really boosted my confidence

Neil Hodgson

Hodgson lies third in the world championship behind Bayliss and Edwards and the 28-year-old former British Superbike Champion is hungry for success in front of his home fans.

"I'm definitely in the right frame of mind for this event," said Burnley-born Hodgson.

"Getting on the podium at the last two rounds and mixing it with Bayliss and Edwards has really boosted my confidence.

"I've managed to stretch the points gap so that things are looking good for third place overall by the end of the season - if I can maintain the same level of consistency.

Raising the bar

"That won't be what's going through my head on Sunday though - all I want is race wins.

"The biggest threat will obviously come from Bayliss and Edwards. Those two have been on fire all season.

I realise that Troy, Colin and Neil are absolutely flying but you've got to have goals

James Toseland

"But the HM Plant Ducati team has been closing the gap and I now feel that I'll be able to compete with them on a level playing field.

"You always have to keep an eye on the wildcards in the UK but Brands is my home event too and I'm well up for it.

"I just hope that the crowds will get behind us as much as they have in the past.

"They can honestly make the difference between a fast lap and an outright lap record."

Ducati team-mates Neil Hodgson and James Toseland
Hodgson and Toseland have high hopes for Sunday's race

Hodgson's team-mate James Toseland, from Sheffield, scored his best result of 2001 at Brands Hatch when he finished sixth in the second race.

Toseland has been a consistent top-10 finisher this season but he has set his sights a little higher for Brands.

"I want to be on the podium," said Toseland.

"Last year I was aiming for top-10 finishes and, now that I'm getting them, I have to raise the bar a little.

"I realise that Troy, Colin and Neil are absolutely flying but you've got to have goals.

"In fact, just being able to stay with the top three would be pretty good too - there'd be no disgrace in finishing fourth."


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