NEIL Hodgson is hoping to make home advantage count this weekend as he roars into World Superbike action around his favourite track, Brands Hatch.

"I love it round here and I have done well in the past," admitted the Burnley-born racer as he can at last look forward to some serious action after the usual week of promotional activities that precede any race weekend in England.

"I do not always enjoy the promotional stuff but I know it is part of my job," he admitted, particularly regretting the fact that the timing of the meeting has meant he missed the chance of seeing the Clarets in action in his new home, the Isle of Man.

Tonight Burnley play the Isle of Man but Hodgson's thoughts will be focused on more important matters than pre-season friendlies, he is determined to build on the positive showings he put together when the World Superbike roadshow moved out to the United States earlier this month.

"It went well for me out there and I am in third place in the championship and have now got a big lead over fourth," he said.

The top two, Troy Bayliss and Colin Edwards are well clear of him but Hodgson remains well satisfied with his progress this year.

The great British climate reeked havoc at round six of the championship at Silverstone in May, so the 100,000-plus Superbike racing fans that are set to make the annual pilgrimage to Brands Hatch for round ten, will be hoping for good weather in which to cheer on their racing heroes.

The majority of this fanatical support will be behind a single team - HM Plant Ducati - and its two British riders Hodgson and James Toseland.

Hodgson current third place in the world championship is thanks to some electrifying performances, and is determined to make Brands Hatch the scene of his first victory of the season.

The Kent circuit has always been one of Hodgson's favourite tracks and has borne witness to some spectacular racing, as well as a good degree of success for the 28-year-old former British Superbike Champion.

"I'm definitely in the right frame of mind for this event," says Hodgson.

"Getting on the podium at the last two rounds - especially 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.

"That won't be what's going through my head on Sunday though - all I want is race wins. The next time I'll even look at the points table will be on Sunday night!

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

Toseland scored his best result of 2001 at Brands Hatch when he finished sixth in the second race. Results of this calibre are now a regular achievement for the young Yorkshireman who has set his sights a little higher this year.

"I want to be on the podium - it's as simple as that really," says Toseland.

"Last year I was aiming for top ten 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. You never know how things will turn out, so I'm just going to get my head down and try not to make any mistakes. The HM Plant Ducati/Dunlop tyres combination should work really well at Brands, so I'm ready to get going."

2001 results - Race one: 1. B. Bostrom (Ducati) 36:41.759, 2. N. Hodgson (GSE Racing Ducati) +1.508, 3. C. Edwards (Honda) +9.202

Race two: 1. B. Bostrom (Ducati) 36.28.522, 2. N. Hodgson (GSE Racing Ducati) +2.581, 3. T. Bayliss (Ducati) +10.907

Lap record: 1:26.884 B. Bostrom (Ducati) 2001

Superpole: 1:26.381 N. Hodgson (GSE Racing Ducati) 2000