Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Results
World Superbike Race Two
Laguna Seca Raceway, 28 laps
1. Ruben Xaus, Ducati, 28 laps
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati, -11.565 seconds
3. Chris Walker, Ducati, -13.064
4. Regis Laconi, Ducati, -15.560
5. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki, -16.354
6. Giovanni Bussei, Ducati, -19.685
7. Juan Borja, Ducati, -33.494
8. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki, -35.564
9. Marco Borciani, Ducati, -35.859
10. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati, -39.330
11. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki, -1 lap, DNF, crash
12. Aaron Yates, Suzuki, -4 laps, DNF, crash
13. James Toseland, Ducati, -11 laps, DNF, crash
14. Luca Pedersoli, Ducati, -11 laps, DNF, mechanical
15. Troy Corser, Petronas, -14 laps, DNF, retired
16. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati, -24 laps, DNF, crash
17. James Haydon, Petronas, -25 laps, DNF, crash
18. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda, -25 laps, DNF, crash
19. David Garcia, Ducati, -26 laps, DNF
20. Steve Martin, Ducati, -28 laps, DNF, mechanical
21. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati, -28 laps, DNF, crash
22. Eric Bostrom, Kawasaki, DNS
23. Mat Mladin, Suzuki, DNS


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

Walker returns to World Superbike podium

Chris Walker finished third in the second World Superbike leg at Laguna Seca after a spectacular battle for the lower podium positions behind runaway race winner Ruben Xaus. However, there was no such joy for his HM Plant Ducati team-mate James Toseland who crashed out of second place on lap 17.

Walker repeated Toseland’s success from the first race to give the HM Plant Ducati team a superb double podium in California. The popular Nottingham rider inherited second place from his younger team-mate after an incident at the infamous Corkscrew bend, but had to give way to championship leader Neil Hodgson in the closing stages of another scintillating 28-lap Superbike race.

“I’m delighted to be back on the podium for the third time this season,” said Walker who retained his sixth place in the championship overall. “It’s been a long haul back from the injuries I sustained at Sugo in April, but I’m regaining my confidence with every event.

“That was a brilliant race and I really enjoyed dicing with the leading pack once again. I guess that I had a bit of luck and things went my way, but I’m pleased with the result. I would like to thank the team for all of their hard work and everyone else who has supported me. We have made a lot of progress this weekend and we can take many positive things with us to the next round.”

Toseland’s emotions were in stark contrast to those of the first race: “It was all going so well and then I had my second podium finish of the day taken away from me. I’m obviously very disappointed, but I’m pleased for Chris at the same time. On a positive note, I’ve strengthened my position in the championship overall and we’re going to the next round in top form.”

The HM Plant Ducati team will next appear in the ninth round of the Superbike World Championship in front of their home fans at Brands Hatch on 25-27 July.


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

Mixed fortunes for Foggy PETRONAS Racing in USA

Troy Corser’s eighth place in the first race at Laguna was the only bright spot for Foggy PETRONAS Racing in round eight of the World Superbike championship at Laguna Seca, USA.

The Australian was set for another top ten finish in race two before an electrical problem reduced the bike to running on two cylinders and he was forced to retire on the 15th lap.

Team-mate James Haydon suffered more appalling misfortune when, after a split water pipe caused a crash on the second lap of the first race, he was wiped out from behind by Walter Tortoroglio at the top of the Corkscrew on lap four of race two, badly twisting his knee .

It was a day full of thrills and spills in front of a three-day attendance of 92,000, with only 13 riders finishing the first race and just 11 completing the second. Frankie Chili followed his race one win with a crash on lap two of the second race, while Ruben Xaus recovered from his race one spill while leading to comfortably claim the second race victory.

Carl said: “Even though there were a few crashes in the first race, the result was not bad. After seeing the qualifying results, I would have been happy with a top ten finish and eighth was probably as good as we could have hoped for at the moment. We have just got to carry on picking up points and learning for next year. If there is any bad luck to be had at the moment, James seems to be at the front of the queue. I just hope he can pick himself up in time for Brands Hatch in two weeks.”

Troy was forced to start the warm-up lap for the re-started race one from the pits after his bike suffered minor damage when he was unable to avoid the second corner mayhem which ruled Eric Bostrom out of both races with a dislocated shoulder.

Troy said: “The tyres were pretty consistent but I was losing the back end going into corners so it took me a few laps to change my lines and try to use different parts of the tyre. I also tried to get around the problem by picking the bike up before accelerating out of corners. The temperature was also going up and down, which seemed to be affecting the engine, so it took me a while to get used to that as well. If you take out the two wild cards Mat Mladin and Aaron Yates, it was a sixth place which is not too bad.

“I had another great start in race two and came round the outside of everyone at turn one and was doing better lap times after changing the front and rear suspension, despite the fact the bike was running slower. The temperature was high from the start again and it was very frustrating to have to retire through the electrical problem.”

James was also forced to start the race two warm-up lap from race two after an oil leak on the out-lap. He said: “I had a terrible start for race two as someone ran wide and I had to pick the bike up. My second bike wasn’t running as well as my number one bike but I knew that if I could finish the race there was a good chance of picking up points. Then I was rammed straight from the back, which is a problem when you are running where you shouldn’t be. There’s not much I can say about my luck at the moment.

“I could see fluid spraying onto the screen in the first race and the next thing I knew I was down. There was nothing I could do about it – the bike was covered in water. I am just thankful that it happened at the final turn, the slowest on the circuit.”


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

Regis Laconi disappointed after Laguna Seca races

It could be a great day today in Laguna Seca for Regis Laconi, on the contrary the French rider of Ducati 998RS Caracchi NCR Nortel Network leaves California very disappointed. A fall, not for his fault in Race-1 while he was leading the race and a mistake in the tyre selection in Race-2 allow to Regis only a fourth place, however positive because his rivals for the championship didn’t obtain a really better result.

“I leave Laguna Seca really disappointed.” – confessed Regis at the end of the day – “I knew that I could get a good result today and on the contrary some misfortune and a wrong evaluation didn’t allow us what we was hoping to get. In Race-1, out of race Xaus, I was in front, managing Chili’s attack, when atAndretti Hairpin, where happened the multiple crash at the first start, I founded a fairing screen piece and I lose the front end; I was calm, the bike performed well as I recorded the fastest lap of the day. Before Race-2 I would absolutely use a new front tyre and I selected a tyre we tested in Friday’s practice and I was sure it could give me what I wish. On the contrary it has been a disaster, with the warmer afternoon’s temperature, 53°C on the track, and at every right corner I lose the front end. So I was accepting the result, then a few laps to go I’ve seen Toseland out and I decided a final attack to Lavilla to get more points and I passed him at the end of the finish line. What a pity, it could be a great day and on the contrary everyting run in the wrong way. But the occasion will arrive later, because in this week end we showed that we have the potential to win, the bike had always the best top speed and without that mistake I could be able to fight for the victory.”

David Garcia didn’t finish both races, entering the pits after a few laps because the pain in his arm, but in the few laps I rode I’ve been always in the points area, racing in Race-2 in the top ten before to be forced to stop.

“It has been a pain race fore some lap.” – said Garcia – “But I would start in Race-2 too after the great work that the team has done. When I stopped I was downright in ninth position, but actually it was impossible to go on.”


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

Ruben Xaus (Ducati Fila) put the seal on a great day’s racing at Laguna Seca circuit in California in front of 92,000 spectators with a win in race 2 after crashing out of the lead in the first race. Championship leader Neil Hodgson twice finished runner-up to increase his lead in the standings over his team-mate to 122 points.

Frankie Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) scored a hugely popular win from Neil in race 1, his first since Donington 2001, after a first lap crash involving Hodgson, Frankie, Bostrom, Yates and Corser had forced a restart, while the victory in race 2 went to Ruben, who took control on lap 4 to lead to the flag for his third win of the year.

“I think that the races offered us a different scenario from qualifying, where we suffered a little, but in the end the Ducati 999F03 performed really well,” declared Ducati Corse CEO, Claudio Domenicali. “The bikes have benefited from the depth of development which goes into the Michelin tyres and the Shell Advance motorcycle oils supplied to the team. With Michelin we have often found Laguna Seca a difficult track, but in the last two years their tyres have been well up to the situation, while the oils Shell Advance supplied us with this weekend are designed to excel under the hot and dry conditions of this track.”

“I was leading the first race pretty easy and my lap times were consistent,” declared Ruben Xaus, “but I had a really hard tyre and I pushed it too much at the slowest corner of the track and crashed. Races are like that, but the second race I wanted to show everyone I am the fastest and the winner here. I found in the morning warm-up that I had the right tyre to last 28 laps and be capable of running 26 lows and that gave me the power for the race. I could have won two races but that’s ok, I know I’m getting better and better all the time.”

“My second place in race 1 is one of the best I’ve ever earned because it was a really difficult race,” declared Neil. “I’ve not felt comfortable all weekend with the set-up but in the race I just took my time. It’s difficult to pass round here and you have to wait for people to make mistakes, so thankfully people made mistakes! Race 2 was probably the most eventful race in my career. I’ve never seen so many crazy things happening, especially on the first lap. I nearly crashed then Frankie somersaulted and then James crashed in front of me and I ran off the track into the gravel. Thankfully I finished second – points are everything because I want to win the championship.”


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

FRUSTRATION FOR TROY

Troy had a frustrating day at Laguna Seca, ending with a DNF in the second race after a hard-fought for eighth in the first. Laguna Seca was always going to be a difficult track for Troy and the Petronas FP1, but after the first race, Troy was thinking of another top eight finish in the second.

But a broken spark plug cap ruined Troy’s chances of a pair of good finishes and left him thinking of what could’ve been. Troy made a good start in race one, but was then involved in a five-rider melee at turn one and was forced to take to the gravel trap. His Petronas stalled and Troy appeared to be out of the race, but the red flag was put out and Troy was able to make the re-start. He rode consistently in the re-start and ended up eighth. Italian Frankie Chili (Ducati) won the 28-lapper after race leaders Ruben Xaus (Ducati) and Regis Laconi (Ducati) crashed out. Second was series leader Neil Hodgson (Ducati), with James Toseland (Ducati) third.

Troy made a good start in the second race, but his Petronas FP1 started running hot after about three or four laps. He tried to carry on, but when the bike went onto two cylinders he knew his race was over, so he pulled into the pits to avoid further damage. Ruben Xaus won the race, after taking command after three laps, with team mate Hodgson second and Chris Walker (third).

TROY Race 1: 8th Race 2: DNF
I feel a bit frustrated because I really thought I could leave here with a pair of top eight finishes and that would’ve been a good result considering qualifying. I suppose I was fortunate that the first race was red-flagged because that would’ve been a no-score otherwise. I had nowhere to go in the pile-up, but I kept the bike upright and went into the gravel. The bike stalled and I couldn’t get it started again, so it’s just as well there was a re-start. The gear lever had to be replaced because it was so badly bent, but that was all. The tyres worked consistently, but I was losing the back end running into corners, so it took me a few laps to change my lines and adapt. I got a good start in race two and overtook a few riders into turn one, but it wasn’t long – maybe three or four laps – that the temperature gauge began moving erratically. The water temperature went up to about 115 C and some of it sprayed over me, but I wanted to keep going. The suddenly the bike went onto two cylinders and slowed dramatically, so I had no choice but to pull in. It was a shame because I’m sure I could’ve had another top eight finish.