AS England were playing Argentina this afternoon Burnley biker Neil Hodgson was roaring around the Lausitz race track in Germany - wearing his England shirt under his leathers.

The World Superbike star admitted this morning: "I will be wearing the shirt in the hope that it will bring the boys good luck.

"I am not happy because the kickoff is right in the middle of the practice sessions but I know what would make a perfect weekend for me - a couple of podium finishes and England being in a position to reach the last 16 of the World Cup."

Hodgson is looking for some light relief after his disappointments at the British round of the World Superbike Championship. The miserable weather at Silverstone a couple of weeks ago contributed to his struggles although he did record a third place in the opening event.

Finishing sixth in the second race was lower than he had hoped but he remains third in the World Championship and looking for improvement.

"I want to get over the miserable weekend last time," he said. "I have just been resting since then and the ankle I injured playing tennis in Burnley is now better, although it did not affect my performance in the last race."

He is certainly confident that he can deliver the goods in Germany as it is a track he did well on last time around.

"I got pole position last year and finished second and eighth in the race," he explained. "I quite like the track and I am confident of going well."

Meanwhile the race ace's World Superbike Championship future will be decided as soon as talks between his HM Plant Ducati team and Ducati near a conclusion.

Hodgson has worked wonders this season in hauling his year-old bike into third in the title standings - and in doing so comfortably beating the works Ducatis of Ruben Xaus and Ben Bostrom.

He only agreed to stay with the GSE Racing-run squad because of plans to step up to full factory support next season and even turned down a lucrative offer to partner Colin Edwards in the works Castrol Honda team.

With current championship leader Troy Bayliss - who rides for the factory Ducati Infostrada team - expected to move into grand prix racing next season, GSE had agreed in principle to take over as official Ducati Superbike team.

But Ducati Corse and GSE Racing released a statement yesterday claiming they "are currently holding talks over the exact form of their agreement regarding the team's participation in next year's Superbike World Championship".

Ducati have confirmed they will create a new works team but have so far refused to confirm who will run the fledgling outfit. However, any hopes of the GSE management as it stands walking into the new team have been dashed.

Ducati have already named two thirds of the management team for the new squad with Paolo Ciabatti lined up to become racing business unit manager and Ernesto Marinelli - who, ominously for GSE, is L&M Ducati's track engineer - announced as track technical director.

Reigning champion Bayliss admitted he was tempted by the Italian marque's new MotoGP challenger, which will hit the track next season.

The Australian - who is expected to lead that challenge - said: "It's looking good. Everyone in the factory is real exited about it and I know the guys all are working hard on the project.

"Ducati only go racing to win and I hope that all the hard work the guys are doing is worthwhile. I believe in them and what they are doing, so it'll be right.

"It certainly tickles my fancy."

A full announcement is expected soon but Ducati have already set up the infrastructure for their prized asset to switch to GPs with the Ducati Infostrada team set to run the new Desmosedici bike.

But for now Hodgson's mind is firmly fixed on this weekend, although his thoughts will still be with Sven's men.