Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Hodgson wins first WSB race of 2003

By Glenn LeSanto

Britain’s Neil Hodgson took his Fila Ducati to an emphatic win under windy conditions at Valencia.

Although Hodgson had the advantage of the pole position he didn’t take the lead until lap five. Hodgson’s former teammate James Toseland grabbed the hole-shot, but he soon came under pressure from Hodgson who got ahead and stayed ahead of the young HM Plant Ducati rider.

Hodgson’s new teammate Ruben Xaus was next to pass Toseland but was unable to close on Hodgson and had to settle for second. Chris Walker also managed to blast past Toseland, squeezing by on lap 12. Toseland put Walker under pressure as the race came to a close, but it was a case of too little, too late and he missed the podium by just over a quarter of a second.

Troy Corser’s dream debut on the Foggy Petronas FP1 turned to a nightmare when he crashed out on lap 10. After qualifying fourth on the grid the Australian was obviously hoping for a better result and was sliding back down the field and running ninth when he pushed both tyres too hard mid-turn and crashed unhurt. His teammate James Haydon held on for 12th and four championship points.

Behind the leading four a titanic battle was going on between Pirelli-shod Steve Martin and Dunlop rider Regis Laconi. The two Ducatis exchanged sponsor stickers for a few laps before Laconi finally got the advantage in the closing stages, leaving Martin forced to settle for sixth.

Valencia World Superbike Race One Results:

1. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 999F03, 23 laps, 36:56.205
2. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 999F03, -4.700 seconds
3. Chris Walker, Ducati 998F02, -12.373 seconds
4. James Toseland, Ducati 998F02, -12.682 seconds
5. Regis Laconi, Ducati 998RS, -24.068 seconds
6. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, -27.006 seconds
7. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -39.792 seconds
8. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, -49.662 seconds
9. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, -56.200 seconds
10. David Garcia, Ducati 998RS, -66.328 seconds
11. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -69.139 seconds
12. James Haydon, Foggy FP1, -69.541 seconds
13. Nello Russo, Ducati 998RS, -74.450 seconds
14. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, -74.712 seconds
15. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -82.845 seconds
16. Martin Isaac, Yamaha YZF-R1, -1 lap
DNF. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -3 laps
DNF. Giovanni Bussei, Yamaha YZF-R1, -9 laps
DNF. Alex Gramigni, Yamaha YZF-R1, -9 laps
DNF. Serafino Foti, Ducati 998RS, -13 laps
DNF. Troy Corser, Foggy FP1, -14 laps, crash
DNF. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda RC51, -14 laps
DNF. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -19 laps


More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Haydon notches first points for Foggy PETRONAS Racing

James Haydon notched Foggy PETRONAS Racing’s first four World Superbike championship points in the team’s debut race at Valencia, Spain. The Englishman finished 12th on the FP1, although Troy Corser suffered a slow crash on the tenth lap whilst in ninth place.

James said: “It’s good for the team to get in the points in the first race and there are a number of things we can work on for this afternoon’s race.”

Troy, who qualified on the front row, said: “I felt as though I was losing grip in the rear tyre. I had a moment on the tenth lap and ran wide into the gravel, where there was not much run-off so I had to lay the bike down. Until then I was happy with the performance of the bike.”


More, from a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

Walker wins the race to the podium


HM Plant Ducati riders Chris Walker and James Toseland got the 2003 Superbike World Championship season off to an excellent start by bringing their Ducati 998 F02s home in third and fourth place respectively. The pair battled incredibly hard throughout the race – which was won by Toseland’s former team-mate Neil Hodgson – but it was Walker who managed to hang in and claim the first HM Plant Ducati SBK podium of the year.



Despite being narrowly beaten by his team-mate, the race was significant for Toseland because – for the first time in his career – the 22-year-old Rotherham-based rider headed the field for the first few laps. While Walker was working his way up from eighth on the grid to fourth on the track, Toseland got the holeshot and quickly demonstrated just how much confidence his brilliant qualifying performance had given him by showing the factory 999 F03s the way around the tight and technical four kilometre Spanish circuit.



Walker however, was not content to hang on to the tail pipe of the number 52 HM Plant Ducati and began to reel Toseland in. Both riders rode incredibly hard but a small error from Toseland eventually allowed the number nine bike to slip past. The pair continued to duke it out for the final podium position but Walker’s experience paid off and by taking defensive lines throughout the final few laps he was able to keep 0.3-seconds between himself and the younger rider as they crossed the finish line.



“I downshifted one gear too many on the way into turn one and Chris got past me,” said Toseland. “You always want to beat your team-mate and obviously I’m disappointed not to have made it onto the podium but fourth place and 13 points is solid start to the season. Last year I would have been over the moon with that but I’ve upped my game for 2003, so you can expect to see me back at the front again.”



The narrow margin that separated the two HM Plant Ducati riders not only demonstrates just how much Toseland has improved as a rider, but also how quickly his new team-mate has adapted to the power delivery and handling characteristics of the factory-supplied V-twins.



“To make it onto the podium in my first race on the HM Plant Ducati is fantastic,” said Walker. “Mine and James’ qualifying times suggested that it was going to be close out there – and it really was. I had a good old tussle with him and he pushed me all the way to the line – I expect there’ll be a lot more of that in race two and throughout season. Hopefully at some point we’ll be battling for first place.”

Race one result: 1. N. Hodgson (Ducati) 36:56.205; 2. R. Xaus (Ducati) +4.700; 3. C. Walker (HM Plant Ducati) +12.377; 4. J. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) +12.682; 5. R. Laconi (Ducati) +24.068; 6. S. Martin (Ducati) +27.006; 7. G. Lavilla (Suzuki) +39.792; 8. L. Pedercini (Ducati) +4.662; 9. M. Borciani (Ducati) +56.200; 10. D. Garcia (Ducati) +1:06.382; 11. I. Clementi (Kawasaki) +1:09.139; 12. J. Haydon (Foggy) +1:09.541; 13. N. Russo (Ducati) +1:14.450; 14. J. Borja (Ducati) +1:14.712; 15. S. Fuertes (Suzuki) +1:22.845