DUCATI riders Carl Fogarty and Neil Hodgson are ready to thrill their team's hometown fans as round two of the World Superbikes Championship gets under way at Misano, Italy.

The Italian motorbike manufacturers are based just several miles from the Misano circuit and both British riders will receive vociferous continental support.

Blackburn's double world champion Fogarty, in particular, is an idol there and he will feel almost at home as he battles for the lead in the championship table.

Although lying a single point behind Castrol Honda's John Kocinski after the first round in Australia, Fogarty sees the other Honda rider Aaron Slight as his main rival this year for honours.

"He's been around for a long time and knows what to expect," said Fogarty who finished third overall in testing at Misano last week.

"Kocinski will have the same problems that I had on the Honda last year as it's his first year with the team."

Burnley's Hodgson says he doesn't feel under any extra pressure about having to perform well at Ducati's home base this weekend.

"The pressure's the same wherever you're racing and Misano won't be at all different," said Hodgson who was eighth fastest during last week's testing sessions.

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