NEIL Hodgson lost his 'Mr Invincible tag' here in Italy as he failed to finish in the top two in a race for the first time this season.

The Burnley bike ace and runaway championship leader was overshadowed by his Ducati Fila team-mate Ruben Xaus, who won both races at Misano to record the first double of his career.

Hodgson's one-man assault on the World title had seen him win 11 of the previous 12 races this season, with his only blemish being a second-placed finish in Germany three weeks ago.

But he gave his nearest rivals a tiny glimmer of hope when he crashed out after losing grip going into a corner on the second lap in race one, leaving the way clear for Xaus to record his first victory of the season.

Then in a thrilling climax to race two, the Spaniard pipped Hodgson to the chequered flag with a classic overtaking manoeuvre during a dramatic last lap.

"I've always known Ruben is fast so it's not like this has come as any shock," said Hodgson, after seeing his lead in the race for the World title slashed... to 107 points.

"He obviously gained a lot of confidence from the first race, whereas I had the opposite so it's frustrating not to win but, like I've always said, if I give my all and get beat then I still smile because you can only give your best.

"I tried my best today and only finished second. It's frustrating because I don't have another race now, that's it.

"But I need motivation and finishing second motivates me to train harder, to work harder in practice, and to go faster in the races."

Hodgson started both races in pole and quickly built up a two second lead in the first but disaster struck on what was his second lap.

He appeared to lose grip going into the Curva del Carro section of the circuit and lost control of his Ducati 999.

Fortunately, he emerged unscathed, but with the championship leader out of the picture, that left Xaus, James Toseland, Frankie Chili and Regis Laconi to contest a stirring battle.

Six times the lead swapped places between the four riders before home favourite Chili crashed out on the final lap, leaving Xaus to take the honours from Toseland in second.

If anything, the second race was even more absorbing.

Hodgson got off to another flyer from the grid and led for the first 10 laps, but Chili and then Xaus hit the front, with the Burnley rider slipped to third at one point.

With six laps to go, however, Hodgson reclaimed the lead and it then developed into a straight fight between the two factory Ducatis as Chili dropped off the pace.

Going into the final lap, it was Hodgson who still had the edge but as he tried to protect his line going on the back straight, Xaus seized his chance and went past him on the outside to claim maximum points.

"I knew Rubens was so fast around the left-hander going onto the straight," said Hodgson.

"It wasn't more grip or anything like that, he just rode the corner so well.

"He had a nice technique where he didn't shut the throttle, he just powerslid it all the way around.

"I wasn't able to do that but I thought I'd covered my line. However, because I went to the inside, I hit the breaks a little bit too early and he came around the outside. It was a good move to be fair."

Hodgson is still the man to catch, though.

He now holds a 107 point lead over Xaus who has moved up to second, with Toseland in third.