INSPIRED by his first and third place finishes at Monza two weeks ago, Carl Fogarty promises to intensify his assault on the World Superbikes Championship at Brno tomorrow.

Although his Honda RC45 has not been handling well on the tough Czech Republican circuit, he is confident of consolidating his current position of third in the championship table.

And with the halfway point due to be reached at next month's meeting at Leguna Seca in the United States, Fogarty believes he is prime position to strike at championship leader and team-mate Aaron Slight.

"I'm only 24 points behind and he'll be well aware of my presence," said Fogarty, who is 30 the day after the race.

"I didn't have the best of starts to the season but my two performances at Monza have given me a lot of confidence.

"I went absolutely nuts on the last lap and I had the Castrol Honda sliding all over on the Michelin tyres - it was great fun.

"The bike is still not handling perfectly, though, and the circuit here does not particularly suit us.

"Smooth tracks are preferable and this one certainly is not.

"But I don't intend to be hanging about."

Neither does Burnley's Neil Hodgson, who claimed Fogarty's place on the Ducati team at the beginning of the season after the Blackburn ace moved to Honda.

"I was encouraged by a sixth and a ninth at Monza although I'd have been happier with a few places higher in both races," said Hodgson.

"It's just a case of regaining my confidence after the crash at Donington.

"And here is as good a place as any to try to do that."

And Hodgson was straight into his stride with the third fastest time in the first one-hour qualifying session.

Troy Corser was the fastest, half a second than closest rival Fogarty who had a 0.12 sec advantage over Hodgson.

Carl added: "It's definitely a track that suits Corser but that doesn't mean to say I've given up pole position this weekend with another qualifying to go.

"It took me most of the session to get dialled in but I'm now a lot happier about my suspension settings for the rest of the weekend."

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