Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn Le Santo

Toseland Wins!

James Toseland took his inaugural World Superbike victory in Race Two at Oschersleben, breaking Neil Hodgson’s nine race winning streak for an emotional win. Hodgson was second from Toseland’s HM Plant teammate, Chris Walker, making an all-British podium.

Toseland took the holeshot and led through the Hotel corner from Hodgson, Walker, and Ruben Xaus, with Regis Laconi and Frankie Chili close behind.

Hodgson, looking to lead the race, went deep into the Shell Esses on lap two, passing Toseland by the exit. But his line caused his Ducati 999 to run wide, allowing Toseland back underneath. The two collided heavily, knocking Hodgson from the seat and damaging his fairing, but both riders continued.

“I thought my race was over,” commented Hodgson, “I looked down and couldn’t see my clutch lever! But it’s on a pivot, designed to spring back from just this kind of incident, I pulled it back up, it wasn’t right, but it worked.”

Hodgson had to fight back after Walker took advantage of the collision, and was clearly trying very hard to catch Toseland. But Toseland was smooth and consistent with his Dunlop-shod HM Plant Ducati, breaking both Hodgson’s streak of wins and ending the longstanding Dunlop win-drought in WSB.

“I can hardly believe I’ve won,” said an emotional Toseland after the race. “I want to dedicate this win to my family, without their support I wouldn’t be here.”

Hodgson was obviously gutted to miss an entry in the record books, but was quick to congratulate his former HM Plant Ducati team mate;

“I have to take my hat off to James, I have no excuses, he beat me fair and square.”

The win leap-frogs Toseland into second in the championship from Hodgson, and sets up for an exciting home round at Silverstone in two weeks time.

World Superbike championship
Race 2, Round Five, Oschersleben, Germany
30-31 May – 1 June 2003

1. J. Toseland, GBR, Ducati, 41:20.103
2. N. Hodgson, GBR, Ducati, -7.416 seconds
3. C. Walker, GBR, Ducati, -15.314
4. R. Laconi, FRA, Ducati, -19.277
5. R. Xaus, ESP, Ducati, -24.228
6. S. Martin, AUS, Ducati, -43.648
7. J. Borja, ESP, Ducati, -46.868
8. V. Iannuzzo, ITA, Suzuki, -47.807
9. M. Borciani, ITA, Suzuki, -48.930
10. L. Pedercini, ITA, Ducati, -1:02.514


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

DUCATI CORSE PRESS INFORMATION

HODGSON (DUCATI FILA) AND TOSELAND (HM PLANT DUCATI) TAKE A WIN APIECE IN GERMANY

Neil Hodgson (Ducati Fila) equalled Colin Edwards’ (Honda) nine-race World Superbike winning streak with victory in race 1 at Oschersleben after a superb battle with Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati) but had to take the runner-up slot in race 2 behind James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) who took his maiden WSBK win.

Hodgson took the lead from Chili on lap 9 and clinched victory despite coming under pressure from the Italian who was never more than a bike’s length behind. “I didn’t get a good start but the Hodgson luck is flying around at the moment because if I had, then I would probably have been taken out in the carnage at the first corner” declared Neil.

After some fairing-bashing with Toseland in the early stages of race 2, Hodgson then had to take second-best to his former GSE team-mate who led an all-British podium with Chris Walker coming home third. “It was a tough race and it’s a tough track for overtaking” added Neil, “so that’s why I made the move on James. We made contact and I thought I had no clutch lever. I glanced down and the lever was facing down so I banged it back. It wasn’t quite right but I could continue the race. I waited for James to make a mistake but it didn’t come. I was trying to stay behind him, but we got the back-markers and it was all over then. I was pleased to match Colin’s record but you can’t win them all! James totally deserved his victory and the best man won on the day.”

Team-mate Ruben Xaus crashed out from third place on lap 10 at the fast right-hander leading onto the back straight in race 1 and then finished fifth after the break. “In the first race I had problems with the front of my bike and unfortunately simply fell off. Then fifth place in race 2 was not so good, because I still had a few problems with the front” declared Ruben. “I didn’t have a good feeling with the bike all weekend. I know I am a fast rider, but at the moment I don’t feel that it is my bike. Tomorrow we’ll be here for a day’s testing and I’m sure we’ll get some good results”.


RACE 1: 1. Hodgson (Ducati Fila)
2. Chili (PSG-1 Ducati)
3. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati)
4. Laconi (NCR Ducati)
5. Walker (HM Plant Ducati)
6. Martin (DFX Ducati)

RACE 2:
1. Toseland (HM Plant Ducati)
2. Hodgson (Ducati Fila)
3. Walker (HM Plant Ducati)
4. Laconi (NCR Ducati)
5. Xaus (Ducati Fila)
6. Martin (DFX Ducati)


POINTS (after 5 of 12 rounds):

Riders:
1. Hodgson 245
2. Toseland 132
3. Xaus 126
4. Laconi 122
5. Lavilla 111
6. Walker 95
7. Chili 84

Manufacturers:
1. Ducati 250
2. Suzuki 127
3. Petronas 52
4.
Kawasaki 46
5. Yamaha 32
6. Honda 21.


More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

IANNUZZO GRABS A PAIR OF EIGHTHS

It was a disappointing afternoon for Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra rider Gregorio Lavilla at Oschersleben today. A fall at the first corner in the first race left the Spaniard bruised and battered and frustrated at the lack of points. His luck didn’t get any better in race two ­ a suspected electrical problem caused him to pull in after sixteen laps. But there was some joy for Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra, their ‘wild card’ rider Vittorio Iannuzzo put in a superb performance and finished eighth in both 28-lappers.

Briton Neil Hodgson (Ducati) won the first race, after a titanic struggle with Frankie Chili (Chili), to take his season’s tally to nine and equal the record for consecutive wins set by Colin Edwards last year. Third was James Toseland, ahead of Regis Laconi, Chris Walker and Steve Martin ­ all on Ducatis. The second race was another two-rider dogfight ­ this time between Hodgson and Toseland. But this time, Hodgson lost out to his younger rival and Toseland recorded his maiden World Superbike win. Third went to Walker ­ completing an all-British 1-2-3 for the first time in World Superbike history.

GREGORIO LAVILLA ­ Race 1: DNF, Race 2: DNF
To say that was a disappointing and frustrating day would be an understatement! It all started before the first race even began when I felt some problem with the clutch on my bike on the inspection lap. I pulled in and jumped on to my number two bike and maybe the tyres weren’t up to temperature or something. Going into turn my brakes wouldn’t work properly and I went in a bit hot. I tried not to touch anybody and I can’t say if somebody hit me, but either way I crashed and that was that for the race. I was bruised a lot, but not bad enough to prevent me from starting race two. At the start of the second race, the engine revs dropped. I didn’t make a good start and the rear grip didn’t feel good from the start. After a few laps I felt something wasn’t right, but I carried on. I thought that maybe the bike had dropped a valve, so I pulled in. If there had been two or three laps left, I would’ve risked staying out and getting some points. But, as there were twelve or so laps left, I thought it safer to pull in and completely destroy the engine. The mechanics looked at my bike afterwards and they think the problem was probably electrical, but we will not know for sure until they take the engine apart next week. Obviously, I’m very disappointed and very frustrated.

VITTORIO IANNUZZO ­ Race 1: 8th, Race 2: 8th
I am very happy today, because I wanted a pair of solid top ten finishes and I managed a pair of eights. Every time I ride this Suzuki GSXR1000, I learn a bit more about riding a Superbike and get more experience. I am particularly happy with my second race, because the gap to fifth place was very small.

Results

Race 1:
1 Hodgson (GB-Ducati)
2 Chili (I-Ducati)
3 Toseland (GB-Ducati)
4 Laconi (F-Ducati)
5 Walker (GB-Ducati)
6 Martin (AUS-Ducati)
8 IANNNUZZO (I-ALSTARE CORONA EXTRA)
DNF ­ LAVILLA (E-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA)

Race 2:
1 Toseland
2 Hodgson
3 Walker
4 Laconi
5 Xaus
6 Martin
8 IANNUZZO (I-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA), DNF ­ LAVILLA (E-ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA)

Points
1 Hodgson 245
2 Toseland 132
3 Xaus 126
4 Laconi 122
5 LAVILLA (ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) 111
6 Walker 95
15 IANNUZZO (ALSTARE SUZUKI CORONA EXTRA) 27,

PODIUMS FOR STEPH AND KATS!

Team Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra riders Stephane Chambon and Katsuaki Fujiwara took second and third places in the fifth round of the Supersport World Championship at Oschersleben today. Both had to work hard for their places, and once in second and third, they fought each other throughout the second half of the race ­ entertaining the 68,000 strong crowd with their close-quarter racing. The race was won by series leader Chris Vermeulen, who made a flyer of a start and was then never challenged, headed on the way to his third win of the season. By the second lap, he had already opened out a small gap on his pursuers and from then on in, the rest had to grind away and try and catch him. At the end, Vermeuelen took the chequered flag nearly two seconds ahead of Chambon.

STEPHANE CHAMBON ­ 2ND
That was good fun! Fighting Kats is always good fun, but safe. It is a shame that Vermeuelen got away from the rest of us so soon and it was impossible to catch him once he had that advantage. Our Suzuki may be the oldest bike out there, but Kats and I showed that it is still very competitive. Today my Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra GSXR600 worked very well and I’d like to thank the team for all their good work.

KASTSUAKI FUJIWAR ­ 3RD
I am pretty happy today ­ especially after the problems in practice. Also, my right boot zip split and I spent most of the race with the boot flapping about and it was difficult to use the rear brake. Also, my foot kept slipping on the pegs. But the end result was good and I’m very happy with my bike and all we achieved today.