NEIL Hodgson is on course to overtake former World Superbike champion Troy Corser at the penultimate round of the season at the Dutch circuit of Assen this weekend.

More than 40,000 Brits are expected to make the trip across the Channel to roar on the Burnley rider as he aims to finish the season on a high.

And while he will still have his eyes on third spot, currently held by Ben Bostrom, a more realistic aim would be to leap-frog the Australian Corser and enter the final round at Imola at the end of the month in fourth place.

That would represent a great success for a GSE team new to the World Superbike scene.

But, to achieve that aim, he must put behind him last weekend's difficulties at Oschersleben, a track at which he had never raced before.

Hodgson said: "I'm glad that I can get straight back into racing after a frustrating weekend at Oschersleben.

"I love Assen. I haven't had a great result there so far, but I'm hoping to overcome that this weekend. It's my type of circuit.

"It has lots of flowing corners and fast straights.

"It's a track where I can really get into my rhythm."

One of things which could work in Hodgson's favour is the extra power squeezed from his Ducati engine during the recent break from action.

He added: "Since Brands Hatch, the team has been working hard at extracting more power from the GSE Ducatis and I hope we've found it for this weekend!

"Despite the minor setback in Germany, I feel my confidence and determination levels are higher than ever. This is one of the most important events of the year."

World Superbike championship points after 11 of 13 rounds: 1 Troy Bayliss, Australia (Ducati) 319, 2 Colin Edwards, USA (Castrol Honda) 295, 3 Ben Bostrom, USA (Ducati) 276, 4 Troy Corser, Australia (Aprilia) 238, 5 Neil Hodgson, GB (Ducati) 232, 6 Pier-Francesco Chili, Italy (Suzuki) 199, 7 Akira Yanagawa, Japan (Kawasaki) 152, 8 Ruben Xaus, Spain (Ducati) 151, 9 Tady Okada, Japan (Castrol Honda) 137, 10 Gregorio Lavilla, Spain (Kawasaki)

136.