FOUR times World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty believes Burnley's Neil Hodgson is one of three riders who can win this year's championship.

Foggy believes the championship, which starts in Valencia this weekend, is wide open with no one rider set to dominate proceedings.

Yet the retired bike ace ranks Hodgson alongside defending champion Colin Edwards and Troy Bayliss as the three riders most likely to win.

He said: "Neil has got a good bike and a good team behind him and is riding well. He has a very good chance to win the championship which I think is wide open this year.

"He has already competed in two World championships so he has a lot of experience.

"Neil showed what he was capable of when he won two races in last year's championship as a wild card entry."

Foggy believes Neil has improved as a rider over the past few seasons to put him among the front runners.

He added: "Neil may not necessarily be a faster rider but he is a better rider. He can now perform faster over 25 laps rather than just one lap."

But Hodgson will face stiff competition from America Edwards and Australia Bayliss who took over from Fogarty at Ducati.

He said: "Edwards will be among the favourites again but Bayliss will be up their challenging as well."

One rider Fogarty does not think will lift the title this year is his 'protege' Ruben Xaus.

Fogarty has been working with the young Spaniard in preparation for his first championship.

He said: "Ruben won't win the championship this year because has to learn to walk before he can run. But the second part of the season will be the most important for him because he is just starting out."