BURNLEY'S Neil Hodgson has been thrown a career lifeline with a call-up to test the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000.

The former British and World Superbike champion spent yesterday and today speeding round the track at Cadwell in a desperate bid to turn around Suzuki's disappointing season.

Hodgson has already tested on MotoGP and Superbikes this season and he said he was delighted to be back on the track.

He said: "I've a lot of experience, albeit not on a four-cylinder superbike, but hopefully I can help them and give them a direction to go in.

"It's great for me because I get to ride another different type of bike to keep my hand in."

Hodgson was contacted by team owner Paul Denning after they suffered another terrible weekend at Mondello Park - both riders, Chris Walker and Cal Crutchlow, crashed out of the second race after finishing ninth and eighth respectively in race one.

Team boss Simon Buckmaster said: "We need to move the Rizla Suzuki team forward and want another viewpoint on how best to improve the bike.

"We talked with Francis Batta (WSB Alstare Suzuki team boss) about the possibility of Yukio Kagayama testing our bike, but he's not available.

"John Reynolds could help, but it's some time since he's ridden a BSB bike in a competitive environment, so the other obvious option was Neil."