BURNLEY bullet Neil Hodgson today said he was on top of the world after clinching the World Superbike Championship days after the birth of his first child.

An ecstatic Neil, 29, was given a "Who's the Daddy" T-shirt by a fan in Assen, Holland, as he celebrated the arrival of 7Ib Hollie and being the first Briton to take the crown since Blackburn's Carl Fogarty in 1999.

And after securing the title with a second place followed by a first in yesterday's races, he said: "It has been an incredible week for me. I don't know if there is anything better than how life is at the moment, but if there is, it has to be fantastic because the feeling I've got now is incredible."

Neil, who was brought up in Burnley but now lives in the Isle of Man, was unhappy initially after clinching the championship with a second place finish.

But he was delighted to make amends by winning the afternoon race on his Ducati Fila in front of his mum Maureen and dad Mark, who had travelled to Holland from their home in Burnley.

Wife Kathryn stayed at home with Hollie. She was induced last week so the birth did not clash with the race.

Neil added: "I'd been relaxed in qualifying, but as soon as the race started I tensed up and didn't ride my best. In fact I rode like a novice. I cannot stand being beaten.

"I wanted to end the day with a win. It wouldn't have been right to win the race by finishing second. I wanted to be world champion so badly. Twenty years of racing - it has taken a long time to get here."

The "Who's the Daddy" T-shirt was provided after the first race by one of the thousands of British fans in the 70,000 crowd.

After the second race, another supporter gave him an England football shirt with 'Seven, Holly' on the back. Neil put the top over his racing gear and threw his helmet into the crowd, but admitted the spelling was wrong after his wife changed the child's name. He then went on a fist-shaking lap of honour and was mobbed by his team when he returned to the pits.

Neil was interviewed on the BBC seconds later and roared on live television: "I am going to get absolutely battered!"

But his manager Roger Burnlett said the new champion, once he had calmed down, turned his thoughts to home. He added: "He's looking forward to getting home to his wife and baby. I think he just said that on the spur of the moment.

"Assen hasn't been kind to him in the past. He hasn't had any luck here at all. He was just delighted."

Roger said Neil would now have to consider whether his future was in Superbikes or the Moto GP, another division of racing that is now seen as more competitive.

But for the moment, Neil was just thinking about his success.

He said: "Achieving the dream after 20 years of racing is incredible, not just for me, but for all my family and friends that have supported me.

"The 120,000 crowd in England that comes to watch and the many fans in Assen were amazing.

"I am pleased to have done it for everybody."