NEIL Hodgson flags, number 100 shirts and even a girl wanting her Chanel bikini signed - the Burnley racer was finally aware he had made it.

After years of battling on the British and World circuit, Hodgson came home to Silverstone and got the hero's recognition off the 80,000 crowd he has been working for.

The Ducati ace could have walked around Burnley town centre a few years ago and only the most fervent Superbike fan would have raised an eyebrow.

Yesterday, his every frown, sniffle and ultimately, smile, was monitored by an expectant media who know that, barring a crash in the next six rounds, he will be the World Champion soon.

Forget Henmania - Sunday belonged to Hodgsonmania, and he made the most of it.

The pressure was on Hodgson, winner in nine out of ten rounds prior to yesterday's race, to show his form in front of his fans.

And it was a long morning for the Fila Ducati side who were desperate to get his number 100 bike in prime condition for the two race showdown.

It is amazing in Superbikes what the media and fans get to see behind the scenes.

Imagine Sir Alex Ferguson opening his soul to the press about the tactics he will use in a Premiership game, due to start in an hour. It just wouldn't happen.

Yet, in the open garages, the public can see the bikes being worked on, the rider getting his instructions and the technicians' faces as they monitor the bikes progress.

And the 'Pit Walk' gives those fans willing to pay extra the chance to meet their idols just 30 minutes before the likes of Hodgson risk life and limb zipping round the track at speeds of more than 150 miles an hour.

Hodgson, who turns 30 in November, was on his bike at 9.20am after staying with his pregnant wife Kathryn in their delux motor home in which they travel to the European rounds.

He unusually suffered a slight slip in the practise session and then it was a frantic all hands to the pump as they changed any framework that may have been damaged.

While Hodgson, leading off in pole position, was preparing himself mentally for the 12pm first race, the Foggy Petronas team in a garage down the other side of the pit lane were sorting out their bikes.

Carl Fogarty's team has not had the best of starts in their debut season and it was worse for the four-times World Champion as rider James Haydon suffered an injured neck in the last round and they could not get a replacement for Silverstone.

This left Foggy with just Troy Corser and the Australian was rushing from one bike to another in his 20 minute practise session, testing his first and second choice bikes to decide what to use for the race with time ticking on.

By 11.15am, it was back to the pit lane for the Pit Walk and both the Ducati and Petronas garages were swamped by fans trying to get near to the riders.

The bikini clad lady admitted it was 'her dream' to get Hodgson to sign her swimwear - he would have been dreaming of just getting all this attention when he went back to the British scene after a brief spell in the Worlds in the late 1990s.

Hodgson looked relaxed, chatted and laughed and it was hard to imagine this man would be on the circuit in a small amount of time racing his heart out.

However, once the public were gone, Hodgson sat down at the back of the garage and focused hard.

Then he was relieved to get to back to what he does best - racing.

While he concentrated on the full 20-lap race, the fans winding around the Silverstone circuit were eagerly waiting to get their one super-fast glimpse of the riders.

But it was amazing to see their reaction as the Burnley bomber came round in third - there was a groan - then second - there was some flag waving - and then first, where there was a huge cheer.

Carl Fogarty, meanwhile, could only watch from the pit lane as Corser slipped up early on and was well down the field.

In the question and answer session, the Blackburn star had summed up the season so far for the Petronas team as 'frustrating and 'gutting' and, as he rubbed his face, folded his arms and sat back in his chair, he looked resigned to another bad outing for his team.

But nothing would spoil Hodgson's day and he crossed the line first, the fans went wild and, following his lap of honour, a cuddle for his wife and the podium presentation, it was off for the press conference.

This is conducted in the open and the public get to witness what normally only the press are privileged to hear.

Then it was off to the sponsors lounge for the riders, with a definite need for a shower first - it was just too hot for leathers, and most sat and ate a light lunch in their respective hospitality tents.

Again, imagine Roy Keane having a cup of tea at half-time with the so-called prawn sandwich brigade? Yeah right!

Race two came all too quickly and again the horns were blasting as the racers came round the track. The Hodgson flags were waving and the Burnley man came up with the goods to get one hand on the World Superbike trophy.

For Foggy it is back to the drawing board as Corser didn't finish.

But for Hodgson, Silverstone sparkled - and didn't he just enjoy coming home.

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