Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn Le Santo

Home double for Hodgson

Neil Hodgson secured a double win at Silverstone in front of an enthusiastic 83,000 crowd. His teammate Ruben Xaus finally settled down to take a podium place with a well deserved third place despite being pushed onto the grass during the race after contact with John Reynolds.

Wildcard Yukio Kagayama took the holeshot but was quickly passed by Regis Laconi who got his head down to try and make an early break. But there was no way he could escape from the pack and Kagayama soon overhauled him again.

John Reynolds and Ruben Xaus collided, pushing Xaus onto the grass. Reynolds also slowed after the incident as he tried to push his bar and lever back into place. But Xaus got the bull by the horns and carved his way impressively back up into third, only just running out of laps as he caught up with Gregorio Lavilla in second place.

Even though the first three were very close on the last lap, time–and that pesky final chicane–ensured that the final order stayed Hodgson, Lavilla and Xaus. Hodgson’s win extended his championship lead to 130 points.


World Superbike Race Two Results:

1. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 999F03, 20 laps, 38:13.944
2. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -0.493 second
3. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 999F03, -0.653 second
4. James Toseland, Ducati 998F02, -3.435 seconds
5. Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki GSX-R1000
6. Regis Laconi, Ducati 998RS
7. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS
8. Chris Walker, Ducati 998F02
9. Michael Rutter, Ducati 998F02
10. John Reynolds, Suzuki GSX-R1000
11. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS
12. Giovanni Bussei, Yamaha YZF-R1
13. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS
14. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR
15. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Suzuki GSX-R1000
16. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR
17. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000
18. Nello Russo, Ducati 998RS
19. Serafino Foti, Ducati 998RS, -6 laps, DNF
20. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, -12 laps, DNF
21. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, -14 laps, DNF
22. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, -14 laps, DNF
23. Sean Emmett, Ducati F02, -14 laps, DNF


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

Toseland maintains station

James Toseland maintained his second position in the 2003 Superbike World Championship by finishing fourth in the second race at Silverstone. Team-mate Chris Walker came home eighth in front of thousands of sun-drenched British fans who supported the British HM Plant Ducati team magnificently throughout both 20-lap races.

Toseland and Walker blasted off the middle of the second row to complete the first lap in seventh and eighth positions respectively. With championship leader Neil Hodgson trailing in their wake, the HM Plant Ducati duo was well placed in the early stages of the race. Hodgson came past and Toseland followed him up to the leading group, while Walker maintained his eighth position throughout the 12th race in this year’s ultra-competitive series.

With seven riders disputing the lead, Toseland was able to run at a consistent pace to eventually get the better of Kagayama, Laconi and Chili. “That was similar to the first race in many ways,” said Toseland who now has a seven-point advantage over Ruben Xaus in the riders’ points table. “I didn’t get the best start, but worked hard to force my way into contention with the leaders. However, the similarities with race one end there.

“By the time I had got to the front of the second pack, the leaders had a bigger gap than I had anticipated. I had to ride really hard for the rest of the race to keep the others at bay and chase those in front of me in case they made a mistake. I’ve had a fantastic day and I’m really happy with my results in two of the most competitive races of the year. So it’s a big thank you to the HM Plant Ducati team, Dunlop and all the fans for making it a weekend to remember.”

Walker also benefited from the support of the team’s huge following. “The crowd has been fantastic today and they have kept me going in the most challenging of circumstances,” admitted the gritty Nottingham rider. “I was really nervous before both races, but I soon settled down when I got it together in the early laps. The set-up on the HM Plant Ducati has enabled me to finish within sight of the leaders in each race, but the pace was too hot for me to get on to the podium. I’ll have to get as much rest as possible before the next round at Misano next weekend as I continue to get back to full fitness.”


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

POINTLESS EXERCISE FOR TROY

Troy had a frustrating weekend at Silverstone, ending with nothing to show for all his efforts. A small mistake in the first race left Troy chasing the field for the entire 20-lapper and although he made up a lot of ground, he finished just outside the points in sixteenth place. In the second race, Troy made a superb start and was thirteenth at the end of the first lap. But just five laps later his Foggy FP1 suffered an electrical system failure and he was forced to retire from the race. Troy and the team had worked hard all weekend and had made a lot of progress in many areas, but left the Northamptonshire circuit without any points. Both races were won by series leader Neil Hodgson (Ducati), but he had to work hard for them. The first race feature a nine-rider freight train, with Hodgson taking command after fifteen laps. He took the chequered flag less then half a second ahead of James Toseland (Ducati), with Ruben Xaus (third), ahead of Regis Laconi (Ducati) and ‘wild cards’ Yukkio Kagayama and John Reynolds – both Suzuki-mounted. The second race was equally frenetic in the opening stages, but after the halfway mark, Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki) and Hodgson pulled away from the rest of the pack and fought tooth and nail for the lead. Lavilla hounded the Briton, but Hodgson was not to be denied at his home circuit and once again ran out the winner. Third place again went to Hodgson’s team mate Xaus, with James Toseland (Ducati) fourth, Kagayama fifth and Laconi sixth.

TROY

What a weekend! There’s not a lot to say really, except that, on a positive note, we learnt a lot and made progress. Of course, I would’ve liked to have scored some decent points – in what is effectively a home race for the team – but it was not to be. I made a little mistake in race one and was dead last at the end of lap one. I fought as best I could, trying to play catch-up, but just missed out on the points. I made possibly my best start of the season in race two, but was then sidelined with an electrical problem. Now, I have to look forward to Misano next week. At least it’s a track I know well, so I’m hoping for a much better weekend.


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

Frustrating British debut as Corser retires at Silverstone

Troy Corser’s retirement in the second race of round six of the World Superbike championship at Silverstone capped a frustrating debut on British soil for Foggy PETRONAS Racing.

The Australian had finished the first race in 16th position after an early mistake, which forced him wide onto the grass, left him chasing the back markers after running into the grass on the very first lap. But, despite a better start in an afternoon race when Troy moved up into 13th, he was forced to pull into the pits when his bike suffered an electrical system failure. Championship leader Neil Hodgson won both races in front of 83,000 fans.

Team manager Nigel Bosworth said: “Of course we are all very disappointed but we are also realistic. We are not going to beat Ducatis at this stage of the FP1’s development. Our season started well but that was when other teams were finding their way on new bikes and making rapid improvements.

“We are also making improvements all the time and have made progress this weekend with the cooling system, chassis development, the new exhausts and by resolving the blow-by. But these are small developments, which is only to be expected. We are also improving the power of the engine but we do need to find more torque.

“It’s a shame Troy was unable to finish race two, especially as we were in front of our British fans for the first time, who have been very supportive and understanding. But we go to Misano knowing that we have more set-up data for the bike, and Troy has had some very good results there in the past. We are also examining all options for finding a rider to replace the injured James Haydon for that event.”

Troy said: “I suppose we have just got to look upon this weekend as another chance to develop the bike further with the data we have gathered at our first meeting here. I am very frustrated, especially after what happened in the first race, but the bike was cutting out right from the start and then just wouldn’t run. It was probably my best start of the season as well!”


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

HODGSON (DUCATI FILA) CROWNS GLORIOUS DAY FOR DUCATI WITH DOUBLE WIN AT SILVERSTONE – TWO PODIUM FINISHES FOR XAUS

Neil Hodgson (Ducati Fila) crowned one of the greatest days in Ducati’s history when he notched up win #2 in the British Round of the World Superbike Championship in front of a record-breaking 83,000 spectators at Silverstone. Earlier in the afternoon Loris Capirossi had scored Ducati’s first-ever win in MotoGP with an emotional victory at Barcelona’s Circuito de Catalunya.

Neil clinched his tenth win of the year by the slimmest of margins in an astonishing race 1 battle with the two Suzukis of Lavilla and Kagayama, team-mate Ruben Xaus, Laconi (NCR Ducati) and Toseland (HM Plant Ducati). “It was an unbelievable race, Lavilla’s and Kagayama’s lines were incredible” commented Neil. “It was really tough out there because the lap times were slow, people were fighting for the next corner and just not getting on with the race. I battled and touched fairings with just about everybody!”

Race 2 saw more of the same as Neil had to work his way up from 9th on the first lap. He moved into the lead on lap 10 but then had to contend with Lavilla (Suzuki) for the remaining ten laps before taking the chequered flag for his second win of the day and his eleventh of the year. “It’s not good to be on pole here at Silverstone; I got an average start and everyone came underneath me. I tried to pick one rider off each lap and keep my eye on the leaders. Luckily JR and Ruben collided because they were going to be difficult to pass. It’s been a fantastic day for Ducati and I’d like to dedicate these wins in Britain to David Jefferies, my close friend who was tragically killed in the Isle of Man TT”.

Ruben Xaus rode a superb race 1, which saw him take the lead at one point. The Spanish rider inherited the final podium place when Lavilla crashed out ahead of him at the chicane but kept a cool head in the last few laps to finish third. “We worked hard all the weekend since Friday and during the race I just took things nice and calm” declared Ruben. “I knew the wild cards weren’t going to be able to last the race in these conditions. I was just passing and passing until I got the lead. Although I finished fourth, I’m really happy to be on the podium again”.

Ruben again stepped onto the podium in race 2 with another gritty ride to third after recovering from a clash with Reynolds (Suzuki) which sent the Spaniard careering across the gravel trap. “I moved really fast in the early laps to fourth, Reynolds was third and we touched. I went across the grass and tried to get back on the track again, I was giving it gas and the slicks were spinning so much. Then I recovered and my lap times were really good. I nearly caught Gregorio at the end, but I’m happy with third and it’s nice to have two Spanish riders on the podium, there are too many British guys up here!”


More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks:

Laconi great hero at Silverstone

Regis Laconi has been the great hero, on his Ducati 998RS Caracchi NCR Nortel Network, of race-2 on the fast and flat circuit of Silverstone. The French rider send his bold challenge to the Championship leader Neil Hodgson and only an unlucky happening put him out of the victory battle. Throughout 10-lap thriller Regis was involved in a close fight for the lead with Hodgson and the two powerful Suzukis of Lavilla and Kagayama; then at middle race Hodgson send his attack to Laconi for the lead and in that moment the 998RS had a rude and unattended reaction, so Regis, fearing an engine fealure, stopped his action and went out of the track; but the engine was still running well and Laconi restarted his race in ninth position, pushing hard for the final laps to the sixth final position, a result which doesn’t give the right prize at the great Laconi’s performance.

“I’m happy and disappointed in the same time.” – commented Laconi back at the garage after race-2 – “At the race-2 start I got a fantastic start and I overtook immediately Kagayama who was in front, I tried to escape, but Lavilla and Hodgson followed me. At lap number nine I took the lead once more. When I saw Hodgson’s attack I tried to resist with a late braking, but suddenly I had the feeling that the engine wasn’t running well, like it would be going to broken, so I stopped my action, I let the brake and pulled the clutch outing on the grass. But the engine was perfectly running and I rejoined the race. During the final five laps I recorded always fastest as the leaders, but it was too late and I must to content myself to finish in sixth position. What a pity, the day started well and during the morning’s warm up session I’ve been always the fastest. In race-1 we mounted a new engine, but it had a very strong torque at low revs, too much to manage correctly the throttle out of the chicane, the bike was sliding too much also if it got more power at high revs. Then in race-2 we switched to a more manageable engine, so I could turn better the chicane despite a lower power at high revs, but that unlucky happening ruined a fantastic occasion. I don’t know, maybe I found some rubber sweeping on the asphalt part that caused wheel sliding, giving me that strange feeling, there were also the red-yellow flags at the previous marshal post, actually who knows! Now I’m happy because I know I made a great performance, but the final result isn’t what we, me and all the team, merit.”

David Garcia rinounced to start, following also the Clinica Mobile doctors’ advices, ad now is waiting for Misano round.

“During the warm up I pushed hard for several laps, but I had hard pains inside, despite the iniections and I must stop. The doctors gave me the advice to renounce and not take any risk to compromise the recovery. Next week end there’s Misano, I’m confident to be better and be able to start for the race.”