Misano WSB Results
Published: June 23rd, 2003
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Xaus Scores Wins One and Two at Misano
A magnificent double win from Ruben Xaus (Ducati Fila 999 F03) put his season firmly back on the rails after the Spanish star overcame some set-up issues in qualifying, ending a run of results which did not accurately reflect his full talents.
Starting from the third row in each race, Xaus proved to be a guided red white and blue missile on raceday, capitalizing on a mistake from his teammate Neil Hodgson in race one and doing enough to head him off by 0.244 seconds in race two.
Hodgson, still a clear leader on points even after his Misano mishaps, went out of the opening race after crashing on lap two. In second place James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) rode hard to secure second, with Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1) falling on the very last lap, just in front of the Englishman. French ace Regis Laconi (NCR Ducati 998RS) was the first privateer rider home in third place.
In the second 25-lap outing, Xaus and Hodgson shook off the attentions of Chili on the final few laps, and enjoyed a dogfight to the line. Making a pass at the favored overtaking spot of Tramonto corner, on the final lap, Xaus made himself fast and wide enough for Hodgson to be just unable to pass, and thus Xaus doubled up his tally of 2003 race wins in one day.
The intense 31°C heat and relatively high humidity on raceday was a factory for most riders, the two-race format of SBK proving to be particularly demanding.
Many thought that Toseland's retirement from race two was down to tiredness and pain after his big crash in free qualifying on Saturday but unspecified mechanical problems were the real cause.
Laconi followed up his race one win with a fourth place, mainly due to lowering tire pressures between races, to try and improve traction, only to find it counterproductive.
Gregorio Lavilla (Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000) was fourth and then fifth, after a tough day in the Suzuki office, thanks to a practice crash.
Chris Walker recovered well from a bad start in race one to finish sixth, and followed it up with a fatigue affected ninth in race two, losing grip from his front tire on right hand corners, having changed rubber on the start line.
Lucio Pedercini scored an eighth and a sixth on races one and two respectively, but the 'alternative' Italian star of race two was undoubtedly Vittorio Iannuzzo, running a kitted Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 to seventh, ahead of some big names - a pleasing recovery from a crash in race one.
Steve Martin rode almost as well in race conditions as he did in the majority of the qualifying sessions, and finished his day with a sixth and a ninth, on both occasions just place ahead of one of his own countrymen.
Troy Corser put in an excellent display on the Foggy Petronas FP-1, taking seventh place despite the intense heat, and even tenth in race two was a degree of success in a race with far fewer top name retirees than the opener - Toseland excepted.
The top ten in race one was completed by Mauro Sanchini (Kawasaki Bertocchi), just ahead of his teammate Ivan Clementi.
In the championship table overall, Hodgson is still handsomely ahead of all his rivals, with his total of 315 points fully 107 points more than new second place rider Xaus' 208. Toseland slips to third overall, with 185, Laconi is on 174 and Lavilla has secured a grand total of 155.
Race One:
1. Ruben Xaus (Ducati)
2. James Toseland (Ducati)
3. Regis Laconi (Ducati)
4. Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki)
5. Chris Walker (Ducati)
6. Steve Martin (Ducati)
7. Troy Corser (Petronas)
8. Lucio Pedercini (Ducati)
9. Mauro Sanchini (Kawasaki)
10. Ivan Clementi (Kawasaki)
Race Two:
1. Ruben Xaus (Ducati)
2. Neil Hodgson (Ducati)
3. Pierfrancesco Chili (Ducati)
4. Regis Laconi (Ducati)
5. Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki)
6. Lucio Pedercini (Ducati)
7. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Suzuki)
8. Chris Walker (Ducati)
9. Steve Martin (Ducati)
10. Troy Corser (Petronas)
Get Motorcycle.com in your InboxXaus Scores Wins One and Two at Misano
A magnificent double win from Ruben Xaus (Ducati Fila 999 F03) put his season firmly back on the rails after the Spanish star overcame some set-up issues in qualifying, ending a run of results which did not accurately reflect his full talents.
Starting from the third row in each race, Xaus proved to be a guided red white and blue missile on raceday, capitalizing on a mistake from his teammate Neil Hodgson in race one and doing enough to head him off by 0.244 seconds in race two.
Hodgson, still a clear leader on points even after his Misano mishaps, went out of the opening race after crashing on lap two. In second place James Toseland (HM Plant Ducati) rode hard to secure second, with Pierfrancesco Chili (PSG-1) falling on the very last lap, just in front of the Englishman. French ace Regis Laconi (NCR Ducati 998RS) was the first privateer rider home in third place.
In the second 25-lap outing, Xaus and Hodgson shook off the attentions of Chili on the final few laps, and enjoyed a dogfight to the line. Making a pass at the favored overtaking spot of Tramonto corner, on the final lap, Xaus made himself fast and wide enough for Hodgson to be just unable to pass, and thus Xaus doubled up his tally of 2003 race wins in one day.
The intense 31°C heat and relatively high humidity on raceday was a factory for most riders, the two-race format of SBK proving to be particularly demanding.
Many thought that Toseland's retirement from race two was down to tiredness and pain after his big crash in free qualifying on Saturday but unspecified mechanical problems were the real cause.
Laconi followed up his race one win with a fourth place, mainly due to lowering tire pressures between races, to try and improve traction, only to find it counterproductive.
Gregorio Lavilla (Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000) was fourth and then fifth, after a tough day in the Suzuki office, thanks to a practice crash.
Chris Walker recovered well from a bad start in race one to finish sixth, and followed it up with a fatigue affected ninth in race two, losing grip from his front tire on right hand corners, having changed rubber on the start line.
Lucio Pedercini scored an eighth and a sixth on races one and two respectively, but the 'alternative' Italian star of race two was undoubtedly Vittorio Iannuzzo, running a kitted Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 to seventh, ahead of some big names - a pleasing recovery from a crash in race one.
Steve Martin rode almost as well in race conditions as he did in the majority of the qualifying sessions, and finished his day with a sixth and a ninth, on both occasions just place ahead of one of his own countrymen.
Troy Corser put in an excellent display on the Foggy Petronas FP-1, taking seventh place despite the intense heat, and even tenth in race two was a degree of success in a race with far fewer top name retirees than the opener - Toseland excepted.
The top ten in race one was completed by Mauro Sanchini (Kawasaki Bertocchi), just ahead of his teammate Ivan Clementi.
In the championship table overall, Hodgson is still handsomely ahead of all his rivals, with his total of 315 points fully 107 points more than new second place rider Xaus' 208. Toseland slips to third overall, with 185, Laconi is on 174 and Lavilla has secured a grand total of 155.
Race One:
1. Ruben Xaus (Ducati)
2. James Toseland (Ducati)
3. Regis Laconi (Ducati)
4. Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki)
5. Chris Walker (Ducati)
6. Steve Martin (Ducati)
7. Troy Corser (Petronas)
8. Lucio Pedercini (Ducati)
9. Mauro Sanchini (Kawasaki)
10. Ivan Clementi (Kawasaki)
Race Two:
1. Ruben Xaus (Ducati)
2. Neil Hodgson (Ducati)
3. Pierfrancesco Chili (Ducati)
4. Regis Laconi (Ducati)
5. Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki)
6. Lucio Pedercini (Ducati)
7. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Suzuki)
8. Chris Walker (Ducati)
9. Steve Martin (Ducati)
10. Troy Corser (Petronas)
More by George Obradovich
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