From a press release issued by series organizers FGSport:

European Round # 9 – Brands Hatch 24 July – 27 July 2003

Brands Hatch, 23 July 2003

SIMPLY THE BIGGEST, SIMPLY THE BEST

Entitled the European Round of the World Superbike Championship, the Brands Hatch event could be well be renamed the World Round, such is the scale and importance of the second British based SBK race of the season.

Brands Hatch has hosted the biggest World Superbike races ever, with well over 100,000 spectators cramming into Brands Hatch each year, the closest race circuit to the metropolis of London. Being located in the UK, Brands Hatch can feature changeable weather conditions over the weekend, but in recent years invariably raceday has dawned dry and sunny – something all involved will welcome once more.

Brands, first used as a cycle track around the base of the natural amphitheatre which forms the basis for the short ‘Indy Circuit’, has grown in stature to become one of the classic venues of all time. The modern breed of riders share the enthusiasm for the Brands layout that their predecessors did, but this season there is another twist in the tale. The Dingle Dell Section, out in the woodland area of he track, has been remodelled to make the approach safer, and the mods have met with the approval of all those who have raced in the British Superbike Championship round, held at the end of June.

The attractions of Brands for the British race fans this season are many and various, with the biggest draw arguably the 2000 British Superbike Champion, Neil Hodgson (Ducati Fila 999F03). Leading the championship by a mammoth 122 points at this stage, Hodgson was something of an early season winning machine, taking eleven victories up to round six at Silverstone.

His rivals, especially his own team-mate Ruben Xaus, can take heart from their own recent upward swings in form. James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati 998F03) may have been the first to stop Hodgson’s winning streak (at Oschersleben) but Xaus has taken his place at the top of the podium three times so far.

It is only right that the three aforementioned riders top the current table, with the points battle between Xaus in second and Toseland in third a new and welcome dynamic in what is turning out to be a fascinating season.

The only rider other than the top three to win this year is the class veteran Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1 Ducati 998RS). His win at Laguna has been the highlight of an up and down season for the 39-year-old rider, one of the most popular ever to stand on top of an SBK podium.

Chili’s privateer success is a fillip for Frenchman Regis Laconi (NCR Nortel Caracchi 998RS) a rider who has come close to a win on a few occasions in 2003, but has to go back to his factory Aprilia career in 2001 to remember his one and only SBK success.

With four-cylinder machines of 1000cc allowed into the championship this season, Gregorio Lavilla has been a constant force for the Alstare Suzuki team, taking his GSX-R1000 to five podium finishes. A win has been just out of reach but Lavilla will be buoyed by the fact that John Reynolds (former SBK race winner at Brands Hatch) has already scored a race win on the full Brands circuit, during the British Superbike round in June.

The local Brands Hatch crowd will be bellowing support for Chris Walker (HM Plant Ducati 998 F02) another rider who has scored podiums but not quite a race win yet. At Brands, the scene of many heroics for the popular rider in his previous British Superbike career, Walker will be a threat, especially after leaving what could have been difficult Laguna Seca meeting with a third place to his credit.

In overall sixth at present, Walker heads up Chili and top Pirelli-supported entrant Steve Martin (DFX Ducati 998RS). Martin is finding himself under increasing pressure from his team-mate Marco Borciani, while another top Ducati privateer, Lucio Pedercini (Pedercini Ducati 998RS) rounds out the top ten after eight meetings of the 12-round/24 race series.

Possibly the most interesting technical entry is that of the Foggy Petronas FP-1 three-cylinder. A 900c machine by regulation, the high tech triple has had good and bad results since joining the series at Valencia in round one, with a front row qualifying for 1996 Champion Troy Corser being the biggest highlight. Still developing apace, the FP-1 is moving in the correct direction, but for Corser and second rider James Haydon, the pace of progress has not allowed them to challenge for podiums.

Wild card riders will pack the Brands grid, and if their impact at the previous Silverstone round in May is anything to go by, there will be several candidates for podium success or better come Sunday afternoon.

Michael Rutter (Renegade Ducati), Leon Haslam (Renegade Ducati), John Reynolds (Rizla Suzuki), Yukio Kagayama (Rizla Suzuki), Shane Byrne (Monstermob Ducati) and Dean Ellison (Firepower Ducati) make an impressive list of wild card riders, with Byrne the best placed rider in the domestic series.

In the World Supersport Championship all the riders will be returning to the fray after a long summer lay off (the Supersport series skipped the Laguna event) and thus the series enters round eight of its 11 round duration at Brands this weekend.

Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) has been in sparkling form for most of the year, scoring four wins, but ending his most recent race at Misano with a fall. Still suffering from a dislocated right thumb, Vermeulen is the clear championship leader.

The Supersport series features a particular abundance of talent and fast machinery this season, and the top three positions in the championship are filled by machines from three different manufacturers.Katsuaki Fujiwara (Alstare Suzuki GSX-R600) lies second, Jurgen van den Goorbergh (Yamaha Belgarda R6) third
and a host of possible race winners make up the bulk of a field. No fewer than 19 full works machines feature at Brands, plus two wildcards, Jamie Robinson and Tom Sykes.

As well as Vermeulen, Fujiwara, Christian Kellner (Yamaha Motor Germany R6) and current number one plate holder Fabien Foret (Kawasaki Racing Team ZX-6RR) have also scored race wins in 2003, the lastof them a somewhat unlikely success by Foret at Misano, on a machine which is yet to reach full engine development.

Each race weekend from now on features a full card, as the season completes its calendar in Europe – the remaining rounds taking place at Assen, Imola and Magny Cours.



More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing:

World Supersport Championship 2003 – Round Eight
Brands Hatch Race Preview
25 – 27 July 2003

HONDA MEN HEAD FOR THE BIGGEST RACE OF THE YEAR

Round eight of the World Supersport championship takes place under English skies on Sunday 27 July, at the legendary Brands Hatch circuit in Kent, a place the World Championship leader Chris Vermeulen (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) knows particularly well.

Vermeulen may have been on the World scene for the past few years, but he cut his racing teeth in the British Championships after moving to the UK from his native Australia to advance his career. The young Aussie, only 21-years-old, has won four races so far this season, maturing into his long-standing status of championship leader as each race weekend has passed by.

Even allowing for a fall in the last round, Vermeulen still leads the championship by a healthy 35 points, and all despite the niggling complications of a dislocated right thumb, picked up way back at round four.

“I’ve been getting a lot of physio but it is still dislocated,” said Vermeulen. “It isn’t painful at all so I can still ride a bike. Considering what happened in Misano I am really pleased to come back from the summer break with a strong lead in the championship. If I can come away from Brands with a good top five finish I’ll be happy.”

Vermeulen may face his stiffest test yet at Brands, a track which has a habit of delivering close WSS races in recent years. The circuit layout has been subtly altered at the approach to Dingle Dell and it will be another challenge for the mass of Supersport riders to learn, especially at what is one of the most difficult circuits imaginable.

“I heard that the there are changes at Brands Hatch so I am looking forward to seeing them,” continued Vermeulen. “I understand it’s not that much different, so that should be good. I finished eighth there last year, in the really difficult race with four starts. I like the track and it’s really cool having over 100,000 people packed in around the place. The track layout itself is not my favourite one but it is up there. It’s technical and it does take a lot of time to learn. In my first year I wasn’t the quickest there.”

Commitment and rhythm are two prerequisites each rider must possess to be in with a chance of a podium at Brands, and in the strong line up of eight Honda supported riders, there are several who have already passed the test well enough to have taken podiums of some colour in national and international competition.

Karl Muggeridge (Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR) is a former WSS winner at Brands, a fact that gives him a fillip going into this weekend.

“I was the first ever rider to win on a CBR Honda in World Supersport and it was my first WSS win as well, so I have good memories of the place. It should work out all right for us this weekend but you always have to play it by ear.”

Like Vermeulen, Muggeridge has had some exposure to his race machine during the short mid-season break in the Supersport calendar, after the last race at Misano on June 22.

“It was good to get out on the bike again before we head off to Brands but it was just a bit of steady going at the Honda rider day in Assen – nothing too stressful. It would have been good to have more of a test.”

Sitting one place ahead of Muggeridge, seventh in the championship table, is another fast Aussie, Broc Parkes (BKM Honda CBR600RR). A Supersport rookie this season Parkes scored a podium finish at the last round, boosting his morale at a crucial time in his development as a Supersport competitor.

“For the team, the sponsors and myself, the podium finish was important and I’m delighted to finally get to sample the podium at World Championship level,” said Parkes. “Next time I intend to be up a step or two! I’ve been using the gap in the calendar since Misano to work hard on my fitness to ensure that I put on a good show at Brands Hatch.”

Parkes’ more experienced BKM Honda team-mate Christophe Cogan will be going out to battle his way into the top ten of the championship at Brands.

“I’m not too far off in the championship, eleventh, and between seventh and the twelfth place in the series there are only five points of a gap. Everything is possible and my objective remains to be in the top ten,” said Cogan.

Robert Ulm (Klaffi Honda CBR600RR) has great experience in World Superbike but this is his first year as a World Supersport factory supported rider. Thirteenth overall at present his form has varied, although his determination to succeed remains constant.

“I have not had any races or tests since Misano – only in my head,” quipped Ulm in the run up to the season re-start. “I like Brands, especially because of the big crowd but I have never been on a Supersport bike there before. I have three days of holiday in Italy before I fly to England, so I should be fully rested and prepared.”

For Sebastien Charpentier, Ulm’s team-mate, Brands Hatch is a short hop across the La Manche, and a hop that he always enjoys. “I like Brands Hatch and the atmosphere is just incredible at this race.” Sitting in 14th place after being a mid-season inductee into his Austrian based team, Charpentier will be looking for his first podium of the year.

Iain Macpherson (van Zon Honda CBR600RR) has already scored a third place this season, and is a previous Brands podium finisher to boot. Macpherson will be at the same disadvantage as his peer group in terms of learning the new section of the Brands circuit, however, but he thinks that few will have any problems with it.

“I haven’t seen the track mods at Brands in person but it seems to be only the top end of Dingle Dell, so it’s shouldn’t be that different. It looks quite good from what I’ve seen on TV,” confirmed the 1999 championship runner-up. “I was racing in Belgium at Zolder recently and I was only two seconds behind the leader, so I’ve had a good chance to sharpen up again for Brands – I feel pretty good on the bike already.”

Werner Daemen, Macpherson’s team-mate has enjoyed the perfect preparation for the Brands weekend, posting the best possible showing at the aforementioned Zolder race.

“Our preparations for Brands have gone well, especially by winning a race a few days ago in my national championship. I think that shows we are sharp and ready for the next round.”

Another long break in race action will feature after Brands, with the next round coming at Assen on 7 September.


More, from a press release issued by Sidecar Championship organizers:

EXPLOSIVE SIDECAR ACTION FROM BRANDS

The Superside World championship returns with a bang for round six of the action from Brands Hatch, Europe with more than 100,000 fans expected at the annual British summer festival.

After a five-week hibernation period, the three-wheeled pocket rockets resume their battle for supremacy and things could not be tighter at the top; Austrian duo, Klaus Klaffenböck and Christian Parzer, lead the series with 94 points, three points clear of Britain’s Steve Webster and Paul Woodhead.

“I love the track at Brands. It is definitely a driver’s circuit and one where you have to keep it smooth. It would be great to finish in front of Klaus and take the lead in the championship,” said Webster, who won last year’s race at the 2.66-mile (4.12km) circuit.

Reigning world champions Steve Abbott and Jamie Biggs will be looking to get their campaign back on track following an ignition problem, which forced them to retire at Misano, San Marino in the last round. “Things are looking good. We are using another engine with new settings,” revealed Abbott.

Another team creeping up the standings is the Halton Fabrications pairing of Tom Hanks and Phil Biggs. After two non-finishes at Valencia, Spain and Monza, Italy the British competitors have recorded three consecutive top five finishes: two fifth places at Oschersleben, Germany and Silverstone, GB followed by a fabulous second at Misano.

“Brands is one of my favourite tracks with its fast, sweeping bends. We will be trying another engine – our spare – and hopefully the weather will be kind,” said Hanks, who has not yet won a Superside World championship race despite four second places.

It promises to be a spectacular weekend at the legendary Kent track with the ever-popular ‘taxi’ rides taking centre stage on Friday afternoon after the second qualifying session.

Saturday’s race will be broadcast live on British Eurosport (Saturday July 26 from 5pm local time).

Superside World championship standings after five of nine rounds:

1 Klaus Klaffenböck, Austria (Yamaha) 94
2 Steve Webster, GB (Suzuki) 91
3 Jörg Steinhausen, Germany (Suzuki) 61
4 Mike Roscher, Germany (Suzuki) 53
5 Steve Abbott, GB (Suzuki) 49
6 Martien van Gils, Holland (Suzuki) 48
7 Tom Hanks, GB (Yamaha) 46
8 Bill Philp, GB (Yamaha) 34
9 Gerhard Hauzenberger, Austria (Yamaha) 30
10 Dan Morrissey, GB (Yamaha) 26.



More, from a press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Foggy hopes for a change in fortune at Brands Hatch

Carl Fogarty is hoping for a change of fortune when his Foggy PETRONAS Racing team compete in the World Superbike championship’s showpiece event at Brands Hatch this weekend.

The four-time World Superbike champion’s fanatical home following was instrumental in making the Brands Hatch races the best-attended single-day event on the UK sporting calendar, with 126,000 at last year’s round.

Those fans were able to see the FP1 in its first track action, when Carl and his riders Troy Corser and James Haydon performed demonstration laps around the 4.221km Kent circuit.

And, after a problem-packed British debut at Silverstone in June, Foggy is eager to give those supporters something to cheer as his team, in their debut season, continue to make progress with the development of the Malaysian superbike – which received FIM homologation this week.

In particular, Foggy wants Lady Luck to shine on Haydon, whose season has been littered with misfortune, including two crashes in the previous round in the United States through no fault of his own.

Carl said: “It would be nice to see a change in luck, especially at James’ biggest round of the year in front of his home fans. I also hope we have a much smoother ride than we did at Silverstone, which was our worst weekend of the year. But Troy has been achieving regular top ten finishes and, although he will be up against fast local wild card riders, hopefully he will be able to continue with those results. The fans have all been very much behind me and this project, so I really want to send them home happy.”

Circuit information: Brands Hatch, Great Britain

Lap record: Neil Hodgson, 1:25752 (Superpole, 2002)

Fastest race lap: Colin Edwards, 1:26.711 (2002)

Pole position: Left

Circuit length: 4.221km

Corners: 3 left, 6 right

Corner radius: 180 degree maximum, 40 minimum

Race times: 1200 and 1530 hours, GMT.


More, from another press release issued by Foggy Petronas Racing:

Haydon seeks home comforts at Brands Hatch

Foggy PETRONAS Racing rider James Haydon is looking to the familiar territory of Brands Hatch, the venue for this weekend’s ninth round of the World Superbike championship, to help turn his season around.

The 28-year-old Englishman has struggled with settings for the FP1 – the Malaysian superbike – on a succession of new tracks for both bike and rider. But, with years of experience of Brands from the British domestic scene, Haydon is hopeful that a return to the circuit will signal the start of an encouraging finale to his year.

James, who qualified for the provisional front row in his last World Superbike outing at the circuit in 2000 before injury ruled him out of the races, said: “It should be really valuable for me, as it’s my first race back in the UK for a couple of years. It is really the only track on the calendar this year that I know. So I am hoping that it is going to allow me to get settings on the bike which will allow me to go quicker. So I am looking for two finishes, scoring good points. Every race has been important to me this year but I do want to put on a show in front on the home fans.”

Haydon has also had to contend with an appalling run of misfortune, including two crashes in the previous round in which he suffered new injuries to add to the neck problem that forced him out of the previous British round at Silverstone. He added: “I tweaked my knee and calf when I was wiped out in the second race at Laguna, but it won’t cause a problem on the bike. I will be wearing a new addition to my lucky necklace – a new crystal that my fiancée Jo bought for me in the States, which is supposed to bring protection and luck.”

Team-mate Troy Corser, twice a winner at the Kent circuit in 1996 and 1998, is hoping to build on a run of top ten finishes. He said: “Brands is pretty much like Laguna in character, so I expect a similar performance to the previous round. You need to have the whole package for Brands and, while the FP1 should go well through some of the faster sections, we may still struggle a little going from the slow bend onto the back straight. But Brands always has a special atmosphere and I am looking forward to it.”

Team manager Nigel Bosworth said: “There are slight modifications to the engine which we hope will bring a little more torque and we will also be using a new oil pump, which we expect to improve the bike’s cooling. If we can get James up in the top ten, at a circuit that he knows as well as anyone, and Troy can continue with his run of top ten results, then we will be happy with the weekend’s work.”


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

HM Plant Ducati planning home turf heroics


Over the years the European round of the Superbike World Championship has acquired a reputation as the most spectacular event on the calendar. Such acclaim is not without justification. This year, round nine of the championship is expected to attract 130,000 fanatical fans to the legendary Brands Hatch circuit for a three-day festival of speed – courtesy of the world’s best production-based racing teams.

The event is even more special for HM Plant Ducati. Riders James Toseland and Chris Walker will be competing in front of the massively partisan but fair-minded crowd that give unequivocal support to its favourite team. Additionally, GSE Racing, the team behind Britain’s most successful Superbike racing squad, is part of the GSE Group of companies based at nearby Ashford.

The team has enjoyed great success in the past with Neil Hodgson achieving some excellent results at the Kent circuit. Hodgson has since moved to the factory Ducati squad and is currently the man to beat in the Superbike World Championship. However, his understudy for the previous two seasons James Toseland is one of the few riders to have beaten him in 2003.

“There’s four rounds of the championship left now and with the way I’m riding at the moment, they should all be good for me,” said Toseland. “Obviously Brands is the biggest event on the calendar but it’s especially important for HM Plant Ducati because of the incredible support we get. The last time I was on the podium there was after a British Supersport race in 1997 and I’ve been dreaming of doing it again ever since. I know they’ve changed the track a bit to slow us down through Dingle Dell but I don’t think it’ll make any difference once I’ve got used to it – it didn’t bother the British Superbike riders who still managed to break the lap record earlier this year.

“It was fantastic to stand on the rostrum in front of a home crowd at Silverstone earlier in the season – although this time I want to be on there after both races. The team is fantastic and we know that we can win races, so I don’t want to let anyone – most of all myself – down this weekend. I spent Wednesday in London doing press conferences and I’m already feeling the nerves. Now I just want to get out there and get on with it.”

After a challenging start to the season Chris Walker, who in the past has enjoyed a healthy rivalry with Hodgson during some epic British Superbike Championship battles, is aiming to produce the kind of form that his legion of loyal supporters has become accustomed to. An excellent result at the previous round of the championship boosted his confidence and his return to fitness will ensure that he has all the tools necessary to challenge for his first win.

“This is going to be a very special weekend for me,” said Walker. “It was this time last year that Darrell Healey and Colin Wright asked me to ride for HM Plant Ducati in 2003 and I really want to repay the faith that they have shown in me with a big result or two on our home turf. It hasn’t been the easiest of seasons for me so far because of the injuries that I’ve picked up along the way, but hopefully that’s all behind me now and I should have a fair crack of the whip at Brands Hatch.

“People have said that World Superbike is a little bit lacking this year but I can tell you that from a rider’s point of view it’s as tough as it’s ever been. Every year the pace gets hotter and hotter and although Neil Hodgson is obviously very much in charge of the championship, the racing has got a lot more interesting recently. There’s any number of riders who could be in with a shot to win this weekend and because this is the UK, there’s always the threat of the wild cards. Sean Emmett seems to have a new lease of life and Reynolds and Kagayama are going really well at the moment. Getting on the podium at Laguna Seca was good for my confidence on the run up to Brands and now I’m really revved up for this one.”


More, from a press release issued by Scuderia Caracchi NCR Nortel Networks:

David Garcia misses Brands Hatch round

Latest news from Team Caracchi NCR about Brands Hatch WSBK round. David Garcia, following his physiotherapist advice, preferred to renounce to challenge the difficult and physically engaging British circuit to accelerate his physical recovery and be finally ready for last season’s rounds in Assen, Imola and Magny Cours. The young Spanish rider, who was the true revelation in the first stage of the championship until his bad crash in Sugo, will be substituted for this event by the Italian rider Giancarlo De Matteis, born in Imperia in 1969, August 13, winner of two editions of Challenge Aprilia RS250 in the years 1998 and ’99, who will made in Brands Hatch his international debut after several seasons at national level activity.


More, from a press release issued by Ducati Corse:

CRUCIAL WEEKEND AHEAD FOR DUCATI FILA AT BRANDS HATCH

Brands Hatch (England): The Ducati Fila team faces a crucial time this weekend at Brands Hatch as the World Superbike Championship moves to the legendary British circuit for round 9 of 12. The Laguna Seca results, which saw Neil Hodgson grab two excellent second places after a difficult weekend and Ruben Xaus take a race 2 win, mean that the British rider has increased his championship lead over the Spaniard to 122 points.

With four rounds and eight races left, Ducati now need just six points on Sunday to ensure that they clinch the World Superbike Constructors’ title for a record twelfth time. For the Riders’ championship, the situation is more uncertain, but if Hodgson gains 28 points on his team-mate over this weekend’s two races, then the title will go to the British rider.

Neil Hodgson, who hasn’t won since the Silverstone round in mid-June, returns to his favourite circuit on the calendar with the intention of doing the double in front of his home crowd.

“I’ve got a good lead in the championship so I can start to think about the percentage game but I’m not going to” declared Neil. “I was genuinely pleased to get two second places at Laguna, but I feel relaxed about racing at Brands. I love the place and want to get dialled in early on at the weekend. I know every bump in the road and that makes my job a bit easier. I know what to expect from the bike and know what changes to make”.

Ruben Xaus is the rider most in form at the moment, with three wins in the last four races after looking particularly impressive at Laguna Seca. “I could have had four wins from four races, but we did well at Misano and Laguna and I hope to continue that here” said Ruben. “It’s going to be tough because there are a lot of wild-cards and the racing will be impressive. I enjoy Brands, even though I haven’t had such a lucky time here. I’ve been fast so far, the bike is perfect for the race distance and I’ll be going for more wins”.


NEW SPONSOR : Ducati Corse has signed a sponsorship agreement for the Ducati Fila team, with Italian company STAYER, a leading group in the design, manufacture and distribution of power tools. Founded in Ferrara (Italy) in 1958, STAYER manufactures a wide range of electrical tools, from sophisticated professional machines to light, simple devices for high-level hobby work. The STAYER logo will be visible on the side fairings of Neil Hodgson’s and Ruben Xaus’s Ducati 999 Factory superbikes from this weekend’s Brand Hatch (UK) round onwards, while the company will provide Ducati Corse with some of its products for use in the pit garage and the racing workshop.

CIRCUIT : World championship bike racing arrived at Brands Hatch in 1993 when the circuit held the Irish WSBK Round. Since 1995 Brands Hatch has hosted the European Round in late July/early August and the event has grown in popularity year after year. The 2002 race saw a massive crowd of 126,000 spectators pour through the gates. The undulating 4.221 km track has three left-hand and six right-hand corners and a start/finish straight measuring 380 m.


POINTS (after 8 of 12 rounds):

Riders – 1. Hodgson 355; 2. Xaus 233; 3. Toseland 201; 4. Laconi 187; 5. Lavilla 166; 6. Walker 156.

Manufacturers – 1. Ducati 400; 2. Suzuki 206; 3. Kawasaki 78; 4. Petronas 75; 5. Yamaha 45; 6. Honda 25.


STATISTICS : Lap record: Bayliss (Ducati) 1:26.690 (2002); Qualifying: Edwards (Honda) 1:25.931 (2002); Superpole: Hodgson (Ducati) 1:25.752 (2002).


2002 RESULTS:
Race 1 – 1. Edwards (Honda); 2. Hodgson (Ducati); 3. Bayliss (Ducati).
Race 2 – 1. Edwards; 2. Bayliss; 3. Hodgson.