FORMER world superbike champion Neil Hodgson has accused current titleholder Troy Bayliss of shutting him out of the Ducati team. Hodgson has no ride next year and believes the Australian has used his influence with Ducati to ensure he is overlooked.

The Briton won the world superbike crown for Ducati in 2003 and moved up to the elite MotoGP series. His two-year spell was a disaster as he struggled to stay with the pacesetters on the d'Antin team.

After his MotoGP flop he moved to the US superbike series but Ducati struggled against the Japanese bikes and Hodgson managed just one win. This prompted the factory to withdraw its support for the US outfit, leaving Hodgson without a ride.

He expected to partner Bayliss next year in the world series, but Ducati has stuck with the less than impressive Lorenzo Lanzi.

"It appears Troy Bayliss didn't want to be put under pressure by having a competitive teammate and Ducati bowed to his demands," Hodgson said on his website. "This has left me as the longest-serving Ducati rider facing the prospect of changing brands for the first time in eight years."