THE buzzword for Neil Hodgson's final weekend of the World Superbike season is 'catch-up'.

The Burnley rider, celebrating a new three-year deal with Ducati to remain in superbikes, is 10 points behind fourth-placed Australian former world champion Troy Corser.

But, in trying to overhaul that deficit, Hodgson must again overcome the hurdle that the big factory outfits like Corser's Aprilia, Castrol Honda and Ducati Infostrada, have all tested at the Imola circuit earlier in the season.

The classic Italian track, where Ayrton Senna was killed, has previously been more synonymous with cars than bikes and this is the first time that the World Superbike series has travelled to the circuit, just outside Bologna.

Hodgson said: "I've never been to Imola before but I've been catching up by using my normal method of 'video revision' to prepare for the last round of the year.

"It's a bit like Oschersleben in that GSE Racing is starting at a slight disadvantage compared to the factory teams who tested there last month.

"However, based on what I've heard from the other riders I believe that the circuit has a lot of character and should suit my style."

Oschersleben was a weekend that Hodgson would prefer to forget, having finished fifth and 10th in the two races.

But at the other new circuit of the season, Lausitzring, he achieved one of his best results by finishing second in the second race behind new world champion Troy Bayliss.

However, the wider picture of the championship will be at the forefront of Hodgson's mind in order to cap a promising return to the world stage.

He added: "My realistic target for Imola is to secure fourth overall in the series.

"If I can do that I will look on it as an absolute major success.

"And I was fourth in the British Superbike Championship in 1999 before winning the series in 2000, so it could be an omen!

"Seriously though, since Corser won the first two races, I have made up ground on him by being a more consistent performer, although there hasn't been much between us over the last couple of rounds."

While the season draws to a close at Imola, Hodgson's hectic schedule does not ease up.

He travels to Las Vegas at the end of this month for his stag party before marrying girlfriend Kathryn in November.

The 27-year-old then throws himself into a publicity tour for the launch of his diary of the season book, Back on Track, published on November 6.