DUCATI supremo Davide Tardozzi today led the tributes to four-time World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty.

The Blackburn ace announced his decision to retire aged 35 following his horrific arm injury in April.

Tardozzi, manager of the Italian-based team and himself a former racer, said: "He is the top rider of all time. There have been some great ones but in my opinion, Carl is the best.

"He is a fantastic rider and will be sadly missed. I have never met anyone like him in terms of his will to win. This is a desperate blow for Ducati. We are all crying a bit in Italy."

Fogarty made Ducati's red machine world famous, and Tardozzi confirmed that there was a job for life with the firm -- if he wanted it.

"This man has a job for life at Ducati. He has been good for us and we have been very good for him."

Neil Hodgson, who is battling for the British Superbike championship and is hopeful of a world superbike ride next year, was a team-mate of Fogarty at Ducati in 1997.

He added: "It's obviously flattering for people to mention my name in the same sentence as Carl's, but I feel I've a long way to go yet. I have won two World Superbike races whereas Carl has won dozens.

"I learnt a lot from him during my time with Ducati. He was very focused, very determined and it showed me just what was needed to succeed at that level. "From a very early age he was my hero. He was superbikes.

"Yes, I would like to be the next Carl Fogarty, but I realise that I have a lot of ground to make up. My first priority is to win the British Superbike title, then I will think about next season.

"Carl has done a massive amount for motor cycle racing in this country and it's a real shame he is retiring," said Hodgson.

"But as one door closes for Carl perhaps another one opens for me. I should know within the next seven days whether I will be on the factory team or with INS in World Superbike next season."

Meanwhile, Hodgson has just one game plan for this weekend's penultimate round of the British Superbike Championship.

Trailing leader Chris Walker by six points, the 26-year-old Burnley rider must finish ahead of his rival in both races at Brands Hatch.

And Hodgson insists the last-minute decision by organisers to use the shorter, Indy circuit instead of the longer Grand Prix track -- which would have favoured his INS Ducati -- hasn't affected his determination.

"I'm really fired up. I would have preferred to have been racing on the GP circuit for obvious reasons, but the Indy is still one of my favourites," said Hodgson, who earned the respect of bike fans around the world after his remarkable wild card victory in the WSB round at the Kent circuit last month.

"We've still got the settings from that race, which we will use as a starting point, and I'm feeling incredibly focused." The season-long fireworks between Hodgson and Walker has ignited interest in the British Superbike series, with every round attracting record-breaking crowds.

But Hodgson will line-up this weekend knowing that the pendulum has swung in favour of the The Stalker -- acknowledged as the fans favourite -- with just four races to go.

Currently the form man in the championship, he hasn't finished lower than second since Oulton Park in July, and went to the top of the table for the first time this year after claiming a win and a second at Mallory Park.

And although he had to be content with a win and fourth at the Leicestershire circuit, Hodgson remains confident that the title is heading his way.

He said: "The championship is in my hands. I've always said it would go to the final round, all I have to do is make sure I do enough to put me in the strongest possible position for the showdown at Donington Par."