NEIL Hodgson is under no illusions about how tough it's going to be to win the 2006 US Superbike Championship.

The Burnley-born racer finished the first major winter test down in fourth place - and reigning champion Mat Mladin wasn't even there.

With six-times winner Mladin resting at home in Australia after tendon surgery, Hodgson ended the shakedown 1.4 seconds off the pace.

And to make matters worse, the fastest man at the test - held at Daytona - was Suzuki rider Ben Spies, followed by Hodgson's new team-mate Ben Bostrom.

Spies smashed the lap record by clocking 1m 37.309secs at the famous old track.

Putting a brave face on the trip, Hodgson said: "I'm not panicking. It's early days yet and although it wasn't perfect, it wasn't too bad.

"My times improved steadily, although the fact my team-mate went faster than me is a concern."

Hodgson, who finished fifth overall in his debut season in US Superbikes last year, was disappointed to find the Ducati 999 bike he will use next season is virtually identical to the one he rode in 2005.

His team will be using the same bikes used by James Toseland and Regis Lanconi in this year's World Superbike Championship, with updated features.

"Essentially there is no difference. We've got this year's factory bikes, which are very similar to what we have been using," said the former WSB champion.

"I'd love to be able to say we have more horsepower, but it's the same engine and same suspension."

However, Hodgson has had a major pyschological boost with the news that his team have undgone a major personnel re-shuffle, with a host of Moto GP and World Superbike engineers and mechanics joining Ducati's bid to win the American championship.