THE odds on Neil Hodgson winning next year's World Superbike Championship have been slashed following Ducati's surprise announcement this week about his new team-mate.

It was widely expected that the newly-crowned WSB champion Colin Edwards would link up with Hodgson to spearhead the factory team's attack on the series.

But in a dramatic about-turn, the man dubbed 'The Texan Tornado" has this week signed a contract with Italian rivals Aprilia to ride their promising RS3 Triple in MotoGP -- despite signing a letter of intent with Ducati earlier in the season.

That has left Ducati with Spaniard Reuben Xaus, who despite enjoying the benefits of a state-of-the-art factory bike last season, could only finish sixth in the riders' championship, a mammoth 77 points behind third place man Hodgson's older machine.

The Burnley-born rider was the leading 'non-factory' rider this season finishing third overall on a year-old HM Plant Ducati.

He was rewarded for his efforts by being named as former champion Troy Bayliss' replacement with the works outfit, after the Australian made the step up to MotoGP.

"I'm over the moon about my factory Ducati ride, it's like a dream come true," said Hodgson.

"I'm also pleased because it is a sort of reward for all the hard work I've put in with HM Plant Ducati over the past few seasons.

"Everything feels really positive at the moment and I expect to be right up there at the front at the end of next year's championship."