Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Seven from Seven for Hodgson

Neil Hodgson maintained his perfect score in 2003 by dominating the first Superbike race at Monza. He kept out of the melee for second place as Regis Laconi, Gregorio Lavilla, James Toseland and Frankie Chili battled for the remaining honours.

Hodgson got the jump on his Fila Ducati and led the pack in the drag race to the first chicane. Laconi and the two Alstare Suzukis of Vittorio Iannuzzo and Lavilla followed him in.

James Toseland improved quickly on lap two from his fifth position in turn one, moving to third as Ruben Xaus missed his braking point and ran on at the Ascari curves.

Laconi and Lavilla had managed to overhaul Hodgson, but the Brit was in no mood to sit behind and wait. Instead he took Laconi on the brakes into the first chicane on lap three and started a duel which saw the pair swap the lead three times during the lap.

The leaders were four-wide into the first chicane on lap five, with Toseland passing Laconi and allowing Hodgson to make a break.

Hodgson’s lead increased over the next few laps as the battle behind intensified. Toseland and Lavilla passed each other five times in five laps going into the Parabolica.

Traffic came into play with two laps to go, with Hodgson slowed considerably as two backmarkers showed a distinct lack of professionalism in the sight of waving blue flags. The chasing pack continued to fight hard, running four-wide down the main straight and passing time after time through the Ascari curves and into the Parabolica.

A lapped rider, Lorenzo Mauri, held up Laconi, Lavilla, Toseland and Chili as they entered Variante della Roggia. The gap to Hodgson had closed to only 1.2 seconds.

Everything was set for the last lap challenge into the Parabolica. The pack closed on Hodsgon, who was completely unaware that his two-second lead had been reduced almost to nil. But he held out for his seventh win of the season by 0.352 second from Laconi. As he celebrated his win his team celebrated Ducati’s 200th WSB win.

Toseland lost out in a photo finish to Lavilla by less than half a bike length as they crossed the line, with both riders given the same time in the final standings.

“I am very fast in the first chicane but not so fast in the Parabolica,” commented Lavilla. “I was held up by a backmarker before Ascari and it made me angry and I messed it up.”

Frenchman, Laconi was pleased with second place, “I am very happy,” he said after the race. “My bike is very good but not as fast as the 999.”

Winner Hodgson had some harsh words for the back markers: “On the last lap I got held up by the backmarkers who were very unprofessional. They were looking at each other and even banging into each other. When I finally got past, I relaxed a little bit too much on the last lap.

“As I went over the line and closed the throttle, suddenly four bikes went past me, and I thought, shit, I nearly got caught with my pants down there!”

World Superbike Race One Results:

1. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 999F03, 18 laps, 32:38.264
2. Regis Laconi, Ducati 998RS, -0.352 second
3. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -0.389 second
4. James Toseland, Ducati 998F02, -0.396 second
5. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -1.617 seconds
6. Chris Walker, Ducati 998F02, -4.138 seconds
7. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 999F03, -10.889 seconds
8. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, -11.609 seconds
9. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, -12.877 seconds
10. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, -15.902 seconds
11. Alex Gramigni, Yamaha YZF-R1, -21.700 seconds
12. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -25.872 seconds
13. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, -34.204 seconds
14. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -53.406 seconds
15. Serafino Foti, Ducati 998RS, -67.704 seconds
16. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -71.924 seconds
17. Lorenzo Mauri, Ducati 996RS, -1 lap
18. Marco Masetti, Ducati 996RS, -1 lap
19. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -2 laps, DNF
20. James Haydon, Foggy Petronas FP1, -4 laps, DNF
21. Giovanni Bussei, Yamaha YZF-R1, -6 laps, DNF
22. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda RC51, -16 laps, DNF

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

Corser 13th in first Monza race for Foggy PETRONAS racing

Foggy PETRONAS Racing rider Troy Corser finished in 13th place of the first race in round four of the World Superbike championship at Monza. The Australian, starting from 11th on the grid, recorded a best lap time of 1:50.849 in the seventh successive race won by championship leader, Neil Hodgson. Corser’s FPR team-mate, James Haydon, retired from the race after 14 laps, while lying 18th. Corser said: “I will be trying a softer tyre for the second and am hopeful of achieving our pre-race target of making the top ten.”