NOT since Lech Walesa has anyone more deserved the title Mr Superpole more than Neil Hodgson.

But, while the Polish people's champion had the backing of his country when overthrowing the communist regime, the Burnley rider must feel like the world is against him.

For having qualified in pole position for the second consecutive World Superbike round, yet more appalling fortune prevented Hodgson from converting his brilliant riding form into the currency of a meaningful points return.

His misery in Misano started early on Sunday morning.

With a brand new engine in his number one bike, a blown alternator caused him to retire from the warm-up session for race one.

And, with all the weekend's work focussed on his favoured machine, a poor race set-up compounded the problems and he was unable to finish any higher than sixth in a thrilling race won by Troy Bayliss.

Hodgson's GSE team worked frantically between races to correct the problems, which had prevented his Ducati 996 from braking hard into the corners of this twisty circuit -- an essential tool at the Italian track.

The evidence of success was immediate as Hodgson stormed into an early lead.

But Bostrom, who had been pipped into second place in the first race, had noticed that Hodgson's rear wheel was spinning frantically in the corners.

On a track which is unusually tough on the rear tyre, coupled with track temperatures of an amazing 52 degrees, the danger is that too much will be asked of the rubber under those conditions.

And, along with other Dunlop riders such as Regis Laconi Troy Corser and Akira Yanagawa, the track surface was the victor.

Agonisingly for Hodgson, though, just two laps remained -- with second place in the bag ---when disaster struck.

"I knew there was something wrong two laps before because it started to slide. Then, suddenly, there was a bang like a bomb had gone off and I knew my race was over.

"It's so disappointing but I have been racing now for 11 years and I have never had one go like that, even in a practice session. It's just one of those things that happens.

"My spare bike in the first race did not have enough bottom end power. My set-up was all right for going fast on my own but I could not race people because I needed to brake later.

"When I went out on my number one bike it felt miles better and I was really enjoying the race," said Hodgson.

"That was the hardest sixth place I,ve ever earned in the first race. I haven,t raced here for three years and it really caught me out," he added.

Hodgson dropped from fifth to sixth in the world championship standings with five rounds remaining.

World Superbike championship points after eight of 13 rounds: 1 Bayliss 250,

2 Edwards 203, 3 Corser 179, 4 Chili 153, 5 Bostrom 147, 6 Hodgson 141, 7 Lavilla 116, 8 Yanagawa 110, 9 Okada 100, 10 Stephane Chambon, France (Suzuki) 80.

Manufacturers points: 1 Ducati 313, 2 Honda 255, 3 Aprilia 204, 4 Kawasaki 194, 5 Suzuki 165, 6 Yamaha 25. Suberbike World Championship Round 8, Misano, San Marino

Race 1 (25 laps): 1 T Bayliss (Aus) Ducati 40mins 23.410secs, 2 B Bostrom (USA) Ducati 40:23.892, 3 G Lavilla (Spa) Kawasaki 40:31.782, 4 C Edwards (USA) Honda 40:34.796, 5 A Yanagawa (Jpn) Kawasaki 40:39.613, 6 N Hodgson (Gbr) Ducati 40:39.744, 7 T Corser (Aus) Aprilia 40:39.747, 8 A Antonello (Ita) Aprilia 40:44.155, 9 T Okada (Jpn) Honda 40:49.459, 10 R Xaus (Spa) Ducati 40:57.514, 11 J Toseland (Gbr) Ducati 40:57.822

Race 2 (25 laps): 1 B Bostrom (USA) Ducati 40:20.677, 2 T Bayliss (Aus) Ducati 40:28.224, 3 G Lavilla (Spa) Kawasaki 40:33.160, 4 A Antonello (Ita) Aprilia 40:35.746, 5 T Okada (Jpn) Honda 40:38.727, 6 R Xaus (Spa) Ducati 40:47.589, 7 B Parkes (Aus) Ducati 40:50.265, 8 J Toseland (Gbr) Ducati 40:51.539, 9 T Corser (Aus) Aprilia 40:53.869, 10 P Chili (Ita) Suzuki 40:59.171, 11 C Edwards (USA) Honda 41:07.851, 16 N Hodgson (Gbr) Ducati 41:20.819