BURNLEY rider Neil Hodgson is wanted by two Grand Prix teams to take part in the 500cc world championship next season.

Both Suzuki and Red Bull Yamaha have approached Hodgson, who is leading the British championship with INS Ducati, about a possible Grand Prix deal.

Red Bull manager Peter Clifford confirmed: "We have an interest in Neil and we are talking to him about next year. He is a great talent." But WSB owner SBK International is so keen to have a Brit on their world circuit -- if four times world champion Carl Fogarty does intend to retire -- and reported to have offered £125,000 to the team which gets him to sign on the dotted line for their series.

But Neil, who now lives in the Isle of Man, is staying tight-lipped.

"The ideal thing would be to stay with the team I am with now," he said.

"If they can get the right budget and the right bikes, I know I can win races for them in the WSB. It's better to stay with the team you know.

"But if Suzuki or Yamaha were actually to offer me a ride in GP's, I'd have to seriously consider it."