CARL Fogarty is to decide soon whether to stay with Ducati or accept a lucrative deal from Japanese giants Suzuki for next season.

The performance of the Ducati machine over the final three rounds of the World Superbikes Championship - starting in Spain on Sunday - will heavily influence Blackburn's former world champion.

"I have to know if Ducati can offer me a bike that will be competitive next season," said Fogarty. "This season, too many things have not been right."

Fogarty is nevertheless just two points adrift of championship leader and arch-rival Castrol Honda's John Kocinski going into the 10th round in Albacete.

Kocinski has never won in Albacete but he is determined to maintain his grip on the championship.

"Fogarty and his Ducati may be favourite for Albacete but I'll be trying my hardest, just as I was in Holland in the last round when I won the first race there," said the American, who finished third behind Fogarty in the second race at Assen. Burnley's Neil Hodgson, Fogarty's Ducati team-mate, is out to showcase his talent for the benefit of prospective employers for next season. He remains adamant that he will not ride for Ducati next year despite the Italian team's desire to retain his services.

"I want to do the best I can for the remainder of the season to impress other team managers," said Hodgson, who may leave Superbikes at the season's close.

"I can't win the championship but there's still a lot to race for."

Bad luck befell New Zealander Aaron Slight even before he made it to the Albacete track. The Castrol Honda rider was robbed within minutes of landing in Madrid on Wednesday.

The New Zealander took wins at Albacete in 1992 and 1995 and says: "Albacete is tight and twisty with little room for overtaking so being on the front row of the grid is very important. Qualifying today and Saturday will be crucial."

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