Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Colin Edwards makes it two wins in a row

Colin Edwards took victory in race one at the European round of the World Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch. Edwards hunted down Neil Hodgson, passing the British rider on the inside through Sterlings Bend. Once in front Edwards never looked back, quickly building up a lead of around one second and using it to control the race.

Despite riding with a broken rib, runaway Championship points leader Troy Bayliss managed to finish on the podium in third place, and even set a new lap record doing so. He pushed the leading pair hard all the way, only backing off when he knew there was no way he could catch Hodgson in the last few laps.

Behind them there was a big fight for fourth place, initially between seven riders. But Ruben Xaus and Nori Haga made a break from the other five. They were followed at first by wildcard rider Michael Rutter on his privateer Ducati, but he slid off at Graham Hill Bend on lap 20, leaving the two to fight hard over that fourth place. And fight they did ­ swapping places several times in the last few laps! Coming into Clearways for the final time, with Haga in front, Xaus ran into the back of the Aprilia. Smoke poured off their tires and both riders wobbled dangerously, but both stayed on. Haga took fourth but stopped on the cool-off lap apparently suffering a severe case of sharp contact with a sensitive area of his body on the petrol tank!

Behind them Chris Walker and Ben Bostrom fought to the line over sixth with the Walker just getting his Kawasaki over the line in front of Bostrom’s Ducati.

World Superbike Championship
Brands Hatch
Results, Race One:

1. Colin Edwards, Honda RC51, 25 laps, 36:27.555
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 998F01, -1.173 seconds
3. Troy Bayliss, Ducati 998F02, -10.327 seconds
4. Noriyuki Haga, Aprilia RSV1000, -22.243 seconds
5. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 998F02, -22.483 seconds
6. Chris Walker, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -26.496 seconds
7. Ben Bostrom, Ducati 998F02, -26.535 seconds
8. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -26.788 seconds
9. James Toseland, Ducati 998F01, -32.322 seconds
10. Shane Byrne, Ducati 998RS, -32.634 seconds
11. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, -38.192 seconds
12. Alessandro Antonello, Ducati 998RS, -46.955 seconds
13. Hitoyasu Izutsu, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -47.247 seconds
14. Dean Ellison, Ducati 996RS, -48.785 seconds
15. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R750, -49.890 seconds
16. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, -57.652 seconds
17. Mark Heckles, Honda RC51, -67.542 seconds
18. Peter Goddard, Benelli Tornado 900, -68.229 seconds
19. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, -81.303 seconds
20. Glen Richards, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -85.120 seconds
DNF. Michael Rutter, Ducati 998RS, -5 laps, crash
DNF. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -13 laps
DNF. Broc Parkes, Ducati 998RS, -17 laps
DNF. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, -19 laps
DNF. Bertrand Stey, Honda RC51, -21 laps
DNF. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -22 laps