From a press release issued by Russ Hodgson Racing:

RUSS HODGSON RACING
Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup
Round 4
Oulton Park
5th May 2003

CONSISTENT HODGSON RACKS UP MORE POINTS

21 year old Russ Hodgson scored yet another top ten placing in the Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup when he posted a battling eighth place finish in front of a bumper bank holiday crowd at Oulton Park, Cheshire yesterday.

The Yarm, Cleveland rider struggled during qualifying with the set up of his Mark Middleton-backed machine and could only manage a row four start but once the race was underway, ‘Rusty’ clawed his way up inside the top ten in the early stages.

Hodgson battled with a group of riders throughout the thirteen lap race and thought he was going to have to settle for tenth position when two of the leaders slid off on the final lap as a light rain shower intervened, leaving Russ to slither round to eighth.

The result sees Hodgson drop a place to joint eighth in the championship standings after four of the scheduled twelve races but such is the intensity of the competition that just nine points separate him from the rider who currently lies in fifth place in the title chase, Kieran Clarke.

Race Result (13 laps)
1. Peter Ward, 23:41.814
2. Benjie Cockerill, 23:49.471
3. Ross Connelly, 23:53.549
4. Victor Cox, 23:53.780
5. Jason Page, 24:04.998
6. Carl Ogden 24:19.198
7. James Hillier, 24:22.168
8. Russ Hodgson, 24:27.187
9. Oliver Bridewell, 24:27.831
10. Tommy Hill, 24:46.342