Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Magny-Cours, France
World Superbike Race Two Results:

1. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 999F03, 23 laps, 39:02.330
2. James Toseland, Ducati 998F02, 39:12.765
3. Chris Walker, Ducati 998F02, 39:12.912
4. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 39:24.583
5. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, 39:37.894
6. Leon Haslam, Ducati 998RS, 39:38.195
7. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, 39:59.049
8. Sebadtien Gimbert, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 40:03.143
9. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 40:04.637
10. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 40:05.786

16. Regis Laconi, Ducati 998RS, -1 lap

18. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 999F03, -3 laps, DNF

20. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -19 laps, DNF
21. James Haydon, Foggy Petronas FP1, -19 laps, DNF
22. David Garcia, Ducati 998RS, -19 laps, DNF

24. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, -23 laps, DNF


World Superbike Championship Point Standings (after 24 of 24 races):

1. N. Hodgson, 489
2. R. Xaus, 386
3. J. Toseland, 271
4. R. Laconi, 267
5. G. Lavilla, 256
6. C. Walker, 234
7. P. Chili, 197
8. S. Martin, 139
9. L. Pedercini, 112
10. M. Borciani, 111


More, from a press release issued by FGSports:

FIM SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Round 12 – France – Magny Cours,
16 October – 19 October 2003

The World Superbike finale at the new venue of Magny Cours in France was as incident packed as anyone could have expected, and proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Ducati Fila riders, Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus – although Xaus left France the happier rider.

Hodgson made a brisk start in race one, coming off the line from a front row grid position, before tangling with his old HM Plant Ducati team-mate James Toseland. The latter had won his first career Superpole the day before the races, and was in determined form. He was to slip down the order to fifth after his tyre choice proved fallible. Xaus had shaken of a less than perfect start to run out second, shadowing but not quite able to reach Hodgson. Hodgson had the bizarre experience of his boot fastenings coming loose mid race, although the distraction proved unimportant to the final result.

Each factory Ducati rider set a new lap record in the final stages of the first race, with Hodgson taking the best at this new Magny Cours track layout, with a 1:41.227 on lap 22 of 23. He would later improve that in race two to the new race best of 1:41.219.

A dust-up between Chris Walker (Ducati) and Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki) went the way of Walker in the opener with Lavilla fourth. Lavilla was once more easily the best four-cylinder rider in the field.

Race two gave Xaus his seventh race win of the 2003 season, riding from a terrible start to the win by ten seconds. His constant late race companion Hodgson crashed, shortly after setting his new lap record in his pursuit of a fleeing Xaus.

James Toseland’s second place finish in race two gave him third overall in the title race, after local rider Regis Laconi (NCR Ducati) scored sixth and a no score for 16th. Laconi pitted in race two and ended up back out with the leaders, albeit one lap down.

Toseland’s team-mate Chris Walker took his second third place finish of the day in the second leg, from Lavilla and privateer rider Steve Martin (DFX Ducati 998RS). Martin’s finish matched his best of the season at Valencia, using a new type of Pirelli tyre.

In the World Championship Hodgson’s 13 wins have contributed massively to his final total of 489 points, with Xaus second on 386, having taken seven wins. Toseland – with one glorious Oschersleben win to his credit – has 271, and Laconi dropped from third to fourth overall with 267 points and no wins.

Walker rode his heart out for his podium finishes, securing sixth in the championship, while Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) suffered the agony of a double DNF and remained on the 197 points he came to France with. He finished seventh overall – although he has the personal satisfaction of a race win nestling in his list of 2003 results.

Steve Martin’s season in SBK delivered him eighth overall placing, from Pedercini Ducati rider Lucio Pedercini and Martin’s own team-mate Marco Borciani.

The bizarre happenings at Magny Cours included a crash on the second race warm-up lap for Troy Corser (Foggy Petronas FP-1). His eight place in race one was encouraging for his team but James Haydon, in his last races for the Anglo-Malaysian race team, crashed after Ivan Clementi clashed with him in race one, and then fell in a single rider incident later in race two.

Corser finished the championship in overall 12th, losing out to Borciani and Mauro Sanchini on the final day of action in the 2003 season

In the 11th and final round of the Supersport World Championship, Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda) scored another race win, his third straight success after victories in Assen and Imola. His team mate, and new champion, Chris Vermeulen, took second, and achieved his personal ambition of going over 200 points, with a total of 201.

Third in the race went to the forceful Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Belgarda), who regained overall third in the series with his last gasp overtake of Sebastien Charpentier (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR).

Stephane Chambon (Alstare Suzuki) took fifth and thus second in the series, ahead of van den Goorbergh and final fourth placed Karl Muggeridge. Such was the closeness of the fight for second that Chambon’s total was 137, van den Goorbergh’s 136 and Muggeridge’s 134.

Pere Riba (Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-6RR) rode assuredly on a fading rear tyre to take sixth in France, his team-mate Foret having pulled in to retire. The Kawasaki duo ended the season with Foret ninth and Riba 11th in the title chase.