Motorcycling: Edwards looking for a power surge

Colin Edwards has called on Honda to find him greater power as he battles to end Troy Bayliss's domination of the World Superbike Championship, which makes its first appearance at Silverstone this weekend.

Bayliss has won eight out of the 10 races so far in the championship to streak into a strong lead at the top of the title standings. But that lead would be almost impregnable if Castrol Honda's former world champion Edwards had not consistently proved to be the best of the rest.

The American has won once so far this season – at Sugo in Japan – but is demanding more power from his machine to repeat that feat regularly. "I guess we can just keep the pressure on – there's nothing we can do but our season's moving on," he said.

"If Honda come up with another 10 horsepower that would be good but 15 horsepower would be even better. We're pushing Honda to get a bit of work out of those guys and a bit more horsepower."

Edwards, who hopes that Silverstone will give him a chance to cut Bayliss's advantage, said: "The track does suit me, it suits my riding style and the bike is working all right."

Bayliss, the reigning champion, refuses to rest on his laurels, despite a 38-point lead in the championship race. The Ducati Infostrada rider said: "I've had an incredible start and there's plenty of places to go now – I could go down.

"I'll do the best I can and the team and I will take everything we can get. So far it's been quite nice. I've got some good fans out here. I'm here to do my job and I have a good time when I'm here."

Despite his domination so far this season, Bayliss acknowledged the contribution of Edwards to a thrilling title battle. The Australian may have won eight races to Edwards' one, but he is still feeling the pressure because of Edwards' consistent displays. Bayliss said: "I've been saying all along it's always Colin – he's always there being so consistent.

"But there are five guys out there who can win races at any one time so it's not just Colin."

Meanwhile, the home supporters' hero, Neil Hodgson, admits that this weekend's racing will make a dream come true.

The Burnley-born HM Plant Ducati rider has never ridden on the full grand prix circuit at Silverstone and revealed that he will be inspired by the titanic battles of two of motorcycling's greats.

Barry Sheen and Kenny Roberts enjoyed epic confrontations in the British Grand Prix at the Northamptonshire track and now Hodgson hopes some of that magic will rub off on him.

"I've never been on the grand prix circuit before. I remember in the late 70s and early 80s watching Barry Sheen and Kenny Roberts when I was just a kid," he said.

"I started road racing in 1990 and this is my first chance to get on to that track – it's something I've always wanted to do.