By Andrew Benson
Motorsport editor |
 | Hodgson is set to join the World Superbike exodus |
World Superbike championship leader Neil Hodgson is poised for a move to the MotoGP series next season. The British rider is "90% certain" to follow his former Superbike rivals Troy Bayliss and Colin Edwards into bike racing's premier championship in 2004, according to a Ducati source.
"I would say the deal will be done within the next two weeks," the source added.
Hodgson would make the switch with his Ducati team, and would be likely to ride a 2003-spec bike in a semi-works team.
Hodgson has admitted that he is interested in making the move.
"I wouldn't want to end my career like Carl Fogarty did, never having been measured against the best in the world. And to do that you've got to go to MotoGP," he said.
His manager Roger Burnett confirmed to this website that Hodgson was discussing a switch. "Neil has entered into discussions about MotoGP with Ducati," Burnett said.
"He has a two-year contract with them and Ducati spoke to Neil to ask what he thought about MotoGP and whether he would be prepared to make the switch - because his contract is for WSB."
He added: "We all know how good [MotoGP champion] Valentino Rossi is and I think Neil would fancy his chances against riders like that.
"Bayliss and Edwards have done quite well in MotoGP this year and Neil challenged them in World Superbikes on a year-old bike and what could be said to be not the best tyres, so he feels he can measure himself against the MotoGP riders.
"The other danger is that if you don't move on, you don't get better."
But Burnett played down the prospect of an imminent deal, saying Ducati had to resolve its future in World Superbikes first.
This had been brought into doubt by a recent annoucement that the championship would switch to a control tyre in 2004.
| Rossi has talked of his interest in a switch to Ducati |
Hodgson's departure would be another major blow for World Superbikes, which is suffering declining interest following a change in rules in MotoGP.
The premier series has adopted four-stroke 990cc bikes similar to, but much more advanced than, those in Superbikes, and many of the leading WSB teams and riders have abandoned the series for MotoGP.
Ducati would also have to wait and see what Rossi wants to do before finalising Hodgson's deal.
The Italian has expressed an interest in riding for Ducati and the team would want to sign him if they could.
Many believe Rossi has used his remarks as a bargaining ploy to try to get the one-year contract he wants from Honda.
If he did move to Ducati, he would be likely to partner Loris Capirossi in a works team, with Capirossi's current team-mate, Bayliss, moving to the semi-works outfit to ride with Hodgson.
"To get Rossi would be a major coup for Ducati," said Burnett. "Whether they could afford him is another matter."
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Neil fancies his chances against riders like Valentino Rossi 
