From a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

Double podium for HM Plant Ducati

James Toseland and Chris Walker finished the 2003 Superbike World Championship on a high after completing the last race of the year in second and third positions respectively at Magny-Cours. The HM Plant Ducati duo had been disputing third position in the closing stages of the race when World Champion Neil Hodgson crashed out of second while closing in on his Fila Ducati team-mate – and eventual race winner – Ruben Xaus.

With Regis Laconi only finishing in 16th position after encountering some technical problems during the race, Toseland’s 20 points for second elevated him to third overall in the final standings for the series. Walker also completed his season by confirming his highest ever position in the championship in sixth.

The highlight of the race was undoubtedly the titanic battle between Toseland and Walker. With no team orders, it was every man for himself, as the HM Plant Ducati team-mates thrashed their way around the 4.411km French F1 Grand Prix circuit near Lyon. Determined to make up for his first race disappointment, Toseland just held the advantage as the orange and black machines crossed the line in tandem for the last time.

“I’m absolutely delighted to be back on the podium and take third place in the championship,” said 23-year-old Toseland. “That was a fantastic way to finish my best year in the Superbike World Championship. Chris and I had a huge battle out on the track, but it was fair and square right down to the wire.

“I’m so pleased for everyone associated with the team. It was fitting for us to pull off such a good set of results today. You couldn’t have scripted it any better with Chris and I on the podium for the team’s last race. I’d like to thank GSE Racing and HM Plant for all their help and assistance over the past three years. The team may not be continuing next year, but I hope to follow former GSE Racing riders Troy Bayliss and Neil Hodgson to more success with Ducati Corse.”

Walker was equally delighted with his second podium finish of the day. “I’ve had an awesome year with HM Plant Ducati and it was important for me to repay them for the faith that they have shown in me with a couple of strong results,” said the popular Nottingham rider. “Unfortunately, I just failed in my quest to beat Gregorio Lavilla to fifth in the championship, but at least James and I put on a good show for the fans today.”

Race two (23 laps): 1. R. Xaus (Ducati) 39:02.330; 2. J. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) +10.435; 3. C. Walker (HM Plant Ducati) +10.582; 4. G. Lavilla (Suzuki) +22.253; 5. S. Martin (Ducati) +35.564; 6. L. Haslam (Ducati) +35.865; 7. J. Borja (Ducati) +56.716; 8. S. Gimbert (Suzuki) +1:00.813; 9. I. Clementi (Kawasaki) +1:02.307; 10. M. Sanchini (Kawasaki) +1:03.456

Final points (after 12 rounds): 1. N. Hodgson – 489 (champion); 2. Xaus – 386; 3. Toseland – 271; 4. R. Laconi – 267; 5. Lavilla – 256; 6. Walker – 234; 7. P. Chili – 197; 8. Martin – 139; 9. L. Pedercini – 112; 10. M. Borciani – 111


More, from a press release issued by Troy Corser’s publicist:

2003 World Superbike Championship
Round 12, Magny Cours, France, Sunday 19th October 2003
Circuit: 4.411 kms, Crowd: 53,000 (3-day figure), Weather: Dry, sunny/cloudy 14 C.

DISAPPOINTING END FOR TROY.

After a long, hard season for Troy and the Foggy Petronas team, the final race ended in disappointment when Troy DNF’d before even completing a race lap. He crashed on the warm-up lap – the first time he has done so – and the DNF dropped him out of what would’ve been a top ten place in the final standings. Troy had finished a solid eighth in the first race and was looking forward to another top eight finish, but it was not to be. So, the season that started so promisingly, ended not according to plan.

Champion Neil Hodgson won the race, with team mate Ruben Xaus second and Chris Walker third – all Ducati mounted. The second race saw another terrific battle between Hodgson and Xaus, which ended when Hodgson crashed out on lap twenty-one. Xaus cruised home to take the chequered flag, with James Toseland second and Walker again third – another Ducati 1-2-3.

TROY
I’m not sure if that sums up our season or not. I had to work hard in the first race, fighting with Martin and I almost beat him to the line. But I didn’t manage to block him in the last corner and he just sneaked ahead.

I’m really not sure quite what happened in race two. The bike just came round so fast; I didn’t have a chance at all. I was lucky that he bike landed behind me, but then it started pushing me into the fence, so I had to scramble to get it out of the way before it hit the wall! I’ve never crashed on a warm-up lap in my life and we still don’t know what it was, though it felt a bit similar to my incident on my Superpole lap yesterday.

But, it’s done and dusted and now I have to look forward to next season. This year has been a development year really and we have all made a lot of progress – probably more then many people expected. We’re all confident that 2004 is going to be a good year for us.

RESULTS
Race 1: 1 Hodgson (GB-Ducati), 2 Xaus (E-Ducati), 3 Walker (GB-Ducati), 4 Lavilla (E-Suzuki), 5 Toseland (GB-Ducati)), 6 Laconi (F-Ducati), 8 Troy Corser (AUS-Petronas FP1).
Race 2: 1 Xaus, 2 Toseland, 3 Walker, 4 Lavilla, 5 Martin (Aus-Ducati), 6 Haslam (GB-Ducati), Troy Corser (AUS-Petronas FP1) DNF,

FINAL POINTS STANDING
1 Hodgson 489, 2 Xaus 386, 3 Toseland 271, 4 Laconi 267, 5 Lavilla 256, 6 Walker 234, 12 Troy Corser 107


More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing Information:

World Supersport Championship 2003 – Round 11
Magny Cours Race Report
17 – 19 October 2003

Weather: cool, 15°C
Track: dry, 20°C
Attendance: 53,000 all weekend

Race Report

MUGGERIDGE MAKES IT THREE IN A ROW

Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) secured the race win and the new lap record at the 4.411km Magny Cours circuit, in a race held in exceptionally cool ambient and track conditions. Starting from the front row, after his team-mate Chris Vermeulen had secured pole position, Muggeridge was unchallenged throughout, winning his third successive race by three seconds. His best lap of 1:44.643 came on the tenth lap out of 23; an indication of how cold the track surface was as this stop-start French circuit.

With Vermeulen installed as champion after the last race at Imola, and Honda already holders of the Manufacturers’ Crown, Muggeridge was determined to finish third in the championship as race day drew near. He proved to be untouchable in the race, and like Vermeulen before him this season, scored three race wins in a row. Despite his best efforts and his 25 point score this weekend he was only two points from third overall, and an agonizing three points from second place.

Sebastien Charpentier’s dramatic home event on his Klaffi Honda CBR600RR saw him as low as eighth on lap one, climb back to a seemingly certain podium finish of third, then be passed on the last lap to take fourth in the race and seventh overall.

Despite rib injuries from a practice crash, Werner Daemen (van Zon Honda CBR600RR) scored tenth place, battling heroically against visible pain and lack of mobility on the machine.

Muggeridge was in ebullient form during and after his latest victory, despite just missing out on a higher final placing. “I really wanted to win here and the bike felt great,” said the happy Aussie. “The temperature made our tyre selection difficult but we got it right. I was just watching my pit board and was able to maintain the gap at the front.”

Vermeulen had a lonely race to second place, his eighth podium finish in 11 attempts. The 21-year-old Aussie, who is signing off from Supersport duties this weekend, suffered just a little disappointment after a year of almost winning at will. “It was a good race and Karl rode really well,” said Vermeulen, still suffering from the effects of a head cold. “I’m moving to WSB next year so I really wanted to win my last race in World Supersport – but it just wasn’t to be.”

Unluckiest man of the weekend proved to be Charpentier – pipped for pole, then pipped for a podium after a weekend on the pace at his home circuit. His disappointment was tempered by the memories of an excellent season since his induction into the championship at Sugo. “I am very happy because I have finished seventh in the championship even though I didn’t ride in all the races. I am just disappointed today because I did not finish on the podium, Jurgen came past but it was too late for me to do anything about it. I’d like to thank Honda and the Klaffi team for their faith in me and look forward to riding for them again next year.”

For Daemen Magny Cours proved to be a challenge but one that left him smiling through the pain.
“It turned out OK, but it was a vary painful race for me. Crashing and hurting my ribs in qualifying did not help me today, and it made me very tired. We had a good fight and I am happy to be top ten in this race.”

Broc Parkes was inducted into the Ten Kate Honda team for the Magny Cours race and was on top form until he fell while concentrating on to scoring a podium finish at all costs. “I was just trying too hard. I saw the chance to get an all yellow podium for the Ten Kate team and that overcame my brain.”

Frederic Bolley (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) fell in the race, after a weekend in at the deep end of Supersport racing. “This has been a good experience for me, but I made a stupid mistake and I am really disappointed not to finish the race.”

Robert Ulm did not start the race; two practice crashes having a telling effect. Iain Macpherson fell in qualifying and sustained a concussion severe enough to keep him in hospital for two nights. Released for raceday, Macpherson was in attendance at the track to cheer on his Honda colleagues.

Vermeulen cracked the 200 points barrier at Magny Cours, with a final total of 201. Stephane Chambon (Suzuki) completed his year second overall on 137, van den Goorbergh third on 136 and Muggeridge top four with 134.

In the 12th and final round of the World Superbike Championship, race one proved to be a display of consistent, if not too distant, front running from Neil Hodgson (Ducati). Hodgson shot off the line from a front row start position, winning an early fight with first time Superpole winner James Toseland.

Ruben Xaus (Ducati) went from third on lap one to an eventual second following Hodgson all the way to the flag. Each factory Ducati rider set a new lap record in the later stages of the race, with Hodgson taking the best at this new track layout, with a 1:41.227 on lap 22 of 23.

A race-long battle between Chris Walker (Ducati) and Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki) went the way of Walker, with Lavilla fourth and Toseland a slowing fifth.

Race two gave Xaus another chance of a win and despite his slow pace to start, he rode to a clear victory after Hodgson had crashed in the attempt to stay on his tail in the last two laps. Hodgson improved his own lap record pace at 1:41.219.

James Toseland’s second place on his Ducati gave him third overall in the championship standings, after local hero Regis Laconi (Ducati) scored a 6th and a no score for 16th. Toseland’s team-mate Chris Walker took his second third place finish of the day.

In the World Championship Hodgson finishes with 13 wins and 489 points, with Xaus second on 386. Toseland’s has 271, and Laconi 267.

Results
SUPERSPORT:
RACE : (Laps 23 = 101,453 Km)
Pos /Rider /Nat. /Team /Gap
1/K. MUGGERIDGE/AUS/Ten Kate Honda/40m 24.892s
2/C. VERMEULEN/AUS/Ten Kate Honda/3.543
3/J. VD GOORBERGH/NED/Yamaha Belgarda/6.338
4/S. CHARPENTIER/FRA/Team Klaffi Honda/6.565
5/S. CHAMBON/FRA/Alstare Suzuki/8.737
6/P. RIBA/ESP/Kawasaki R.T. KRT/14.446
7/M.LAGRIVE/FRA/Yamaha France – Ipone/23.042
8/C. KELLNER/GER/Yamaha Motor Deutschland/23.908
9/C.COGAN/FRA/Yamaha France – Ipone/24.138
10/W.DAEMEN/BEL/Van Zon Honda T.K.R./30.680
11/S. SANNA/ITA/Yamaha Belgarda/30.977
12/J. DA COSTA/FRA/ART/38.228
13/G.NANNELLI/ITA/Lorenzini by Leoni/50.712
14/M.SCHULTEN/GER/Alpha Technik-Honda/51.336
15/L. HOLON/FRA/Yamaha Racing France/52.527
Fastest Lap 10° Karl Muggeridge 1’44.643 151,750 Km/h

Riders Championship Standings:
1 VERMEULEN 201, 2 CHAMBON 137, 3 VD GOORBERGH 136, 4 MUGGERIDGE 134,
5 FUJIWARA 119, 6 KELLNER 90, 7 CHARPENTIER 72, 8 CORRADI 68, 9 FORET 64,
10 TEUCHERT 60, 11 RIBA 59, 12 COGAN 51, 13 PARKES 47, 14 MACPHERSON 31,
15 NANNELLI 31.

Manufacturers Standings:
1 HONDA 247, 2 SUZUKI 187, 3 YAMAHA 182, 4 KAWASAKI 106.

SUPERBIKE
Race 1: (Laps 23 = 101,453 Km)
Pos /Rider /Nat. /Team /Gap
1/N.HODGSON/GBR/Ducati Fila/39’03.738
2/R. XAUS/ESP/Ducati Fila/0.348
3/C.WALKER/GBR/HM Plant Ducati/13.711
4/G.LAVILLA/ESP/Alstare Suzuki/13.950
5/J. TOSELAND/GBR/HM Plant Ducati/21.480
6/R. LACONI/FRA/Caracchi NCR Nortel Net./32.420
7/S. MARTIN/AUS/D.F.X. Racing Team/41.098
8/T. CORSER/AUS/Foggy PETRONAS Racing/41.204
9/J. BORJA/ESP/D.F.X. Racing Team/1’18.737
10/M.SANCHINI/ITA/Kawasaki Bertocchi/1’30.317
11/S. FUERTES/ESP/MIR Racing/1’46.534
12/C. ZAISER/AUT/Racing Team Zaiser/1’48.154
13/B. STEY/FRA/White Endurance/1 Lap
14/F. PROTAT/FRA/UnionBike GiMotorsport/1 Lap
15/H. SAIGER/AUT/Remus Racing Austria/1 Lap
Fastest Lap 22° Neil Hodgson 1’41.227 156,871 Km/h

Race 2 : (Laps 23 = 101,453 Km)
Pos /Rider /Nat. /Team /Gap
1/R. XAUS/ESP/Ducati Fila/39’02.330
2/J. TOSELAND/GBR/HM Plant Ducati/10.435
3/C.WALKER/GBR/HM Plant Ducati/10.582
4/G.LAVILLA/ESP/Alstare Suzuki/22.253
5/S. MARTIN/AUS/D.F.X. Racing Team/35.564
6/L. HASLAM/GBR/Renegade Ducati/35.865
7/J. BORJA/ESP/D.F.X. Racing Team/56.719
8/S. GIMBERT/FRA/SERT/1’00.813
9/I. CLEMENTI/ITA/Kawasaki Bertocchi/1’02.307
10/M.SANCHINI/ITA/Kawasaki Bertocchi/1’03.456
11/L. PEDERCINI/ITA/Team Pedercini/1’33.537
12/A. GRAMIGNI/ITA/Nuvolari 391/1’41.234
13/B. STEY/FRA/White Endurance/1 Lap
14/M.BORCIANI/ITA/D.F.X. Racing Team/1 Lap
15/F. PROTAT/FRA/UnionBike GiMotorsport/1 Lap
Fastest Lap 17° Neil Hodgson 1’41.219 156,884 Km/h

Riders Championship Standings:
1 HODGSON 489, 2 XAUS 386, 3 TOSELAND 271, 4 LACONI 267, 5 LAVILLA 256, 6 WALKER 234, 7 CHILI 197, 8 MARTIN 139, 9 PEDERCINI 112, 10 BORCIANI 111, 11 SANCHINI 108, 12 CORSER 107, 13 BORJA 87, 14 CLEMENTI 76, 15 BUSSEI 52.

Manufacturers Standings:
1 DUCATI 600, 2 SUZUKI 306, 3 KAWASAKI 130, 4 PETRONAS 118, 5 YAMAHA 69, 6 HONDA 1.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

PAIR OF FOURTHS FOR GREGORIO

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Gregorio Lavilla ended this year’s Superbike World Championship with a pair of fourth places at Magny-Cours today. He made good, but cautious starts to both races and then had to fight for places throughout the 23-lap races, almost ending on the podium in the first race. Neil Hodgson won the race, with his team mate Ruben Xaus second. Lavilla managed to get past Toseland, but could not find a way past Walker and so had to settle for fourth. Lavilla He was also involved in a battle for third in the second race, but lost out to Toseland and Walker once again. Xaus and Hodgson again controlled the race from the front, but Xaus took the chequered flag when Hodgson lost his front end trying to catch him in the closing laps.

GREGORIO LAVILLA Race 1: 4th, Race 2: 4th
That was a long hard day and two long, hard races. If I had made much better starts, maybe I wouldn’t spent so much time trying to catch the guys up front and maybe the races would’ve been a bit easier. I really wanted at least one podium today and I really tried my hardest, but although I could catch Toseland and Walker’s Ducatis, it wasn’t so easy passing them. I could catch them on the brakes, but if they exited the corners first, my Suzuki just couldn’t match their drive and so I lost out. It’s problem, I think we’ve had most of the season and one that we’ve been working on all year. At some tracks (the faster ones) the problems have been less, but at twisty tracks, I think we’ve suffered. Now it’s time for a bit of a break, before working on whatever is next.

Results
Race 1: 1 Hodgson (GB-Ducati), 2 Xaus (E-Ducati), 3 Walker (GB-Ducati), 4 GREGORIO LAVILLA (E-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA), 5 Toseland (GB-Ducati)), 6 Laconi (F-Ducati),

Race 2:
1 Xaus, 2 Toseland, 3 Walker, 4 GREGORIO LAVILLA (E-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA), 5 Martin (Aus-Ducati), 6 Haslam (GB-Ducati),

Final points standing: 1 Hodgson 489, 2 Xaus 386, 3 Toseland 271, 4 Laconi 267, 5 GREGORIO LAVILLA (E-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) 256, 6 Walker 234


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

STEPHANE TAKES RUNNER-UP SPOT

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Stephane Chambon used all his experience at Magny-Cours today, resisted the pressure and did enough to end the season as runner-up in the Supersport World Championship. The Frenchman was involved in a four-rider battle for most of today’s 23-lapper, but watched his pit-signals carefully before bringing his GSXR600 Suzuki home in fifth place enough to clinch runner-up spot by one point! Before Friday’s heavy fall, Chambon’s team mate Katsuaki Fujiwara was also in contention for a top three finish, but the left hip he injured in the fall prevented him from riding the GSXR600 Suzuki hard and getting the points he needed. Fujiwara had to have painkillers before the race today, but after ten laps the pain was so great he was forced to pull in. The Australian Honda duo of Karl Muggeridge and Chris Vermeulen controlled the race from the front, with Muggeridge taking a comfortable victory by over three seconds. Dutchman Jurgen VD Goorbergh was third a further three seconds down on Vermeulen, with Sebastien Charpentier (Honda) fourth.

STEPHANE CHAMBON 5th
Before the race I wanted a podium, but more then that I wanted to finish second in the championship, so I used my head. I had really good pits-signals from my team, so I knew exactly what Jurgen was doing and what I needed to do. It’s always hard to run a race like that, because you have to control your instincts and think of the end result not just the race. Our GSXR600 is the oldest bike in the championship, so I think our team has done superbly to finish second. Next year Suzuki will have a new 600 and I’m hoping that I’ll be on it and taking it to a world title at the end of the year.

KATSUAKI FUJIWARA DNF
Yesterday I was feeling very sore, but I thought the pain would become less and I would be able to ride OK today. I had some painkillers before the race, but it wasn’t long before the pain in my hip was so much that it was hard to concentrate on riding the bike. I stayed out for ten laps and by then I knew that if I carried on, I might have been a danger to other riders, so I decided to pull in. It’s not the way I wanted tom end the season, because before we came here, I really thought I’d be fighting for second place if things went my way. It was not to be and so my season ended with a DNF my second one of the year.

Results Race 1: 1 Muggeridge (AUS-Honda), 2 Vermeulen (AUS-Honda), 3 VD Goorbergh (NL-Yamaha), 4 Charpentier (F-Honda), 5 CHAMBON (F-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA), 6 Riba (E-Kawasaki), FUJIWARA (J-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) DNF, Final points standing: 1 Vermeulen 201, 2 CHAMBON (ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) 137, 3 VD Goorbergh 136, 4 Muggeridge 134, 5 FUJIWARA (ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) 119, 6 Kellner 90


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki:

FABRIZIO AND ALSTARE SUZUKI TAKE TITLE

Team Alstare Suzuki Italian rider Michel Fabrizio is the 2003 European Superstock Champion! The Italian was riding in pain due to a badly bruised arm and shoulder but finished today’s final round in fourth place and that was enough for him to be crowned champion! Fabrizio held a fifteen-point lead before this round, but his injury meant that he had to ride a carefully controlled race today and make sure of the title. His main rival, Lorenzo Lanzi (Ducati) won today’s race, with James Ellison (Suzuki) second and Rocamora ((Suzuki) third. Throughout today’s 14-lapper Fabrizio was involved in a four rider tussle, but he kept out of trouble and watched his pit-signals carefully. The reward for all his efforts (and the team’s) is the 2003 European Superstock Championship.