2003 World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson is pushing for a return to the world championship paddock, with Ducati, for 2007 - but is waiting to hear from the Italian marque.
After clinching his WSBK title with the factory Ducati team, Hodgson made an ill-fated move to
MotoGP with the privateer d'Antin Ducati team - and suffered a disastrous season on year-old machinery and a shoe string budget. That prompted the Englishman to leave MotoGP and rejoin Ducati as a factory rider, but was 'placed' in the American AMA Superbike championship - a series Ducati were eager to conquer due to the large American market.
However, AMA engine tuning rules are different to those in WSBK and Hodgson's 999 v-twin struggled against the Japanese four-cylinders and the Englishman has taken just one race win.
Due to the engine rules, and a lack of title success, Ducati has announced its withdraw from the 2007 AMA Superbike championship, but Hodgson had probably already planned to return to the 'reborn' Corona Extra Superbike World Championship next season - and hopes that his loyalty to Ducati in supporting its AMA campaign will be rewarded with a factory WSBK seat.
"It's been hard work (in the AMA Superbike championship), I've found it quite difficult," Hodgson told
Crash.net Radio. "I actually thought that because it was my second year this year I'd be more competitive, but we've just struggled really. The machinery wasn't quite up to the standard I'd hoped and that's meant that instead of battling for wins I've been battling for thirds and fourths, which is a bit disappointing - especially when you've won a world championship!
"But I've taken it on the chin, I'm still riding well and hopefully I can make something decent happen next year," he continued. "I'm pushing to try and get back to World Superbikes with Ducati, the ball is in their court and they'll make the decision. Hopefully I'll find out in the next few weeks."
