Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Xaus wins as Hodgson and Chili crash out

By Glenn Le Santo

Ruben Xaus took his first World Superbike win of the 2003 season after both Frankie Chili and Neil Hodgson crashed out while contending for the lead.

Hodgson was the first to go, flinging his Ducati Fila 999 into the gravel on lap two while leading the race. Hodgson had passed holeshot man Vittorio Iannuzzo early in lap one and set off in his usual style to try and break the pursuing group. But his plan was unravelled when he lost the rear and slid off, leaving the race open.

Regis Laconi took up the running but he was soon joined by Ruben Xaus, James Toseland and Frankie Chili. Laconi burned up his tires making the charge and that left it open for Xaus, Chili and Toseland to battle to the end. The trio swapped places several times.

During a cliff-hanging last lap Chili attacked Xaus as the pair powered through the long left Tramonto turn. But Chili pushed too hard and lost the rear and was thrown into the gravel. He tried to remount, with plenty of help from the enthusiastic Italian cornerworkers–who seemed to have woken up to their jobs after taking what seemed like an age to react to several accidents in practice–but his bike was too damaged to allow him to continue.

Xaus took the win from James Toseland with Laconi by now too far back to challenge in the final turn.

World Superbike championship
Round seven, San Marino
Circuit Santa Monica, Misano, Italy
June 20-21-22

Race one results:

1. Ruben Xaus, ESP, Ducati 999F03, 40:23.423
2. James Toseland, GBR, Ducati 998F02, -0.760 second
3. Regis Laconi, FRA, Ducati 998RS, -1.711 seconds
4. Gregorio Lavilla, ESP, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -10.933 seconds
5. Chris Walker, GBR, Ducati 998F02, -20.487 seconds
6. Steve Martin, AUS, Ducati 998RS, -23.234 seconds
7. Troy Corser, AUS, Foggy Petronas FP1, -27.083 seconds
8. Lucio Pedercini, ITA, Ducati 998RS, -32.026 seconds
9. Mauro Sanchini, ITA, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -36.701 seconds
10. Ivan Clementi, ITA, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -48.537 seconds
11. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS
12. Alex Gramigni, Yamaha YZF-R1
13. Paolo Blora, Ducati 996RS
14. Serafino Foti, Ducati 998RS
15. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000
16. Zannini Giuseppe, Ducati 998RS
17. Pini Luca, Suzuki GSX-R1000
18. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -1 lap, DNF
19. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -10 laps, DNF
20. Giovanni Bussei, Yamaha YZF-R1, -15 laps, DNF
21. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda RC51, -16 laps, DNF
22. Jiri Makyvka, Ducati 998RS, -19 laps, DNF
23. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, -22 laps, DNF
24. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 999F03, -24 laps, DNF
25. Nello Russo, Ducati 998RS, -24 laps, DNF
26. Christian Zaiser, Aprilia RSV1000, -25 laps, DNF

Fast Lap: Xaus, 1:36.158


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

Toseland on the podium again!

The San Marino crowds were treated to a fantastic first Superbike World Championship race at Misano circuit with HM Plant Ducati’s James Toseland claiming yet another podium placing by finishing in second place behind factory Ducati rider Ruben Xaus, with Frenchman Regis Laconi coming in third.

Toseland had a reasonable start to the race and was third into the first corner. He soon powered his Ducati past Suzuki-mounted Vittorio Ianuzzo and set off after leader Neil Hodgson, but had to take avoiding action when Hodgson fell off on lap two, which allowed Regis Laconi to slip past. Toseland took the lead again on lap five when he drafted past the Frenchman on the start finish straight but it was Xaus who came through to take the lead on lap eight, when he set the fastest lap of the race.

There followed a titanic battle between Xaus, Toseland and Chili, who all enjoyed spells in the lead, but Chili high-sided on the final lap, while attempting to regain the lead from Xaus, effectively handing victory to the Spaniard with Toseland picking up 20 points and safeguarding his second place in the points table.

“That was a fantastic race,” said Toseland. “I was a bit banged up from yesterday’s crash but was able to maintain fast lap times. I was trying hard to hang onto Frankie and Ruben towards the end of the race and it’s a shame Frankie crashed, as he was desperate to win and had been riding so well, but I’m glad he’s ok. Obviously, I’m happy to take second place and get on the podium again.”

HM Plant Ducati team mate Chris Walker also had a good race – finishing in fifth place after starting from 13th on the grid and passing many riders in the process, including Troy Corser, Vittorrio Ianuzzo and Steve Martin: “I’m pleased with the result, but just wished I had qualified better,” said Walker. “I managed to maintain a consistent pace throughout the race and felt extremely confident over race distance, so as long as I can make a decent start to race two, I should be in with a shout of another decent result.”More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Corser seventh in first Misano race

Foggy PETRONAS Racing’s Troy Corser conquered the heat of Misano to finish seventh in the first race of round seven of the World Superbike championship.

Starting from eighth on the grid, the Australian achieved his best result on the FP1 since the second round of the championship at Phillip Island, capitalising on mistakes from Suzuki rider Vittorio Ianuzzo and Frankie Chili to work his way up the field with a fastest time of 1:37.014.

He said: “I am happy with the result, especially considering the problems we had on the first day here. But it was a real battle in the heat. I got a good start and was probably about sixth going down the back straight before a couple of bikes came past me. I was catching Ianuzzo when he went into a corner too hot and lost the front. My front Michelin tyre was great and the rear was pretty consistent.”