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Hodgson moves onto eight wins from eight

Top man in 2003
By Dan Moakes May 28 2003
With Ducati on the verge of racking up 200 victories, the fourth round of the World Superbike series was held at their local circuit of Monza. Sure enough, it was the Italian bike that made most of the running, with Neil Hodgson emerging triumphant from two exciting races.

It wasn’t just a milestone achievement for Ducati, as crowd favourite Frankie Chili recorded his 200th race in the series, which has included fifteen victories to date. To celebrate this fact, the Italian put his Team PSG-1 Ducati second on the grid for the third time in a row. He was only beaten to pole position by Hodgson, the season’s pace setter on the full factory 999 bike.

Neil’s team-mate was not so well placed, as Rubén Xaus had knocked himself out in a heavy practice crash, and lined up only twelfth as a result. Between the two Fila machines were Chili, James Toseland and Régis Laconi (all Ducati), Gregorio Lavilla (Suzuki), Lucio Pedercini and Chris Walker (Ducati), Vittorio Iannuzzo (Suzuki wildcard), Marco Borciani (Ducati), Alex Gramigni (Yamaha) and Troy Corser (Foggy).

As is usual for Monza, the action soon developed into a series of thrilling slipstream battles, with places often changing several times on a single lap. In race one, Hodgson took to the lead at the start, from Laconi and the two Alstare Suzukis of Iannuzzo and Lavilla. These four were followed by the GSE Ducatis of Toseland and Walker, with Xaus and Chili completing the first eight. As they came into the Ascari chicane for the first time, both Toseland and Lavilla went by Iannuzzo, whilst Xaus managed to lose control, run through the gravel, and drop to the tail end of the top fifteen.

As they crossed the line, Hodgson already had a slight lead, and he was pursued by Laconi, Toseland, Lavilla and Iannuzzo. Walker was attacking Chili for sixth, and then came Gramigni, Pedercini, Steve Martin and Corser. Hodgson’s position was by no means secure at this stage, and into the second chicane Laconi went inside him to take the lead. He was followed through by Lavilla, with Toseland also launching an unsuccessful attack and Chili not far back. Before long a gap began to develop behind the first five, and sixth-placed Walker also started stretching away from the following Iannuzzo and Gramigni.

The lead changed hands a few more times, with the top men going three-wide into the first chicane. Hodgson passed Lavilla in this move, was re-passed into the chicane, and came through again at Ascari. Established back in P1, the Englishman consolidated his lead with a series of three fastest laps that were enough to break the pack. This left a four-way fight for second, which was alternately held by Laconi, Toseland and Lavilla, with Chili always in the mix. Walker remained on his own, with further changes putting Borciani seventh, from Pedercini, Gramigni, Martin, Iannuzzo, Corser, Xaus and Mauro Sanchini.

The spirited racing for second saw most passes happening on the inside lines into the first and third chicanes. However, at one stage Lavilla went around the outside of Toseland at the final Parabolica curve, and several moves occurred on the inside at the same place. At one point, they went four-abreast into the first corner, and later Laconi managed to clip the front of the Suzuki as he held position into this turn. Chili and Lavilla passed Toseland into the second chicane, and then Toseland and Lavilla came back past Chili on the straight.

Lavilla appeared to have the advantage on braking and cornering traction, but was losing out with top speed on the straights. As the race reached the latter stages, Hodgson held a three second lead. Laconi was spending most time in P2, but through the Parabolica on one lap he was passed by Toseland, then followed Lavilla back through as the orange machine was put down into fourth again! With two laps to go, it seemed like a three-way tussle, with Chili hanging in as best he could.

They went into the penultimate lap with Lavilla second from Laconi and Toseland, but Régis took over in the second chicane. At the Parabolica, Toseland passed the Suzuki on the entry and the other Ducati on the exit and they went into their last lap in this sequence. At this stage Hodgson was caught behind a pair of backmarkers, and the next group closed up on him, with Laconi looking pretty threatening. As the finish loomed near, Lavilla attacked Laconi into Ascari, but this time could not pass.

Hodgson had just about eased out of danger, and took the win, but Laconi, Lavilla and Toseland were virtually together as they crossed the line in that order. Chili had to make do with fifth, thanks to a late exhaust problem, and the remainder came home in the order Walker, Xaus, Borciani, Martin, Pedercini, Gramigni, Iannuzzo, Corser and Sanchini.

Race two saw Hodgson drop places at the start, due to clutch difficulties, and so Laconi led from the impressive Walker. Iannuzzo squirmed his way into third, diving late to the inside, ahead of Toseland, Lavilla, Chili, Xaus, Hodgson and Gramigni. As the lap unfolded, Toseland passed Iannuzzo and Xaus passed Chili. The next runners through behind Gramigni were Martin, Corser, Pedercini, Borciani, Ivan Clementi, Giovanni Bussei, Sanchini and Serafino Foti. There were nine Italians in the first seventeen.

As in the earlier race, wildcard Iannuzzo was soon being pushed back through the field. On the first time into Vialone/Ascari, team-mate Lavilla went ahead, and a lap later it was the turn of Xaus and Chili. Meanwhile, Toseland had taken third from Walker on the back straight, and Lavilla had passed the pair of them into turn one. A gap was already developing behind Hodgson, and as they started lap three, Laconi led from Lavilla, Toseland, Hodgson, Xaus, Walker, Chili, Iannuzzo and, a little way back, Gramigni and Martin.

As first Lavilla and then Hodgson started to increase the pace, Walker and Iannuzzo began to drop away from the leaders. Lavilla took over the lead at Ascari, only to find himself behind both Laconi and Toseland next time through the first corner, and then the Englishman forced into P1 for the briefest of moments. Hodgson meant business, however, and was able to pass all three into turn one, as they lined up across the track! Lavilla took the lead back for a short while, but the 999 established a familiar superiority thereafter.

It now became a three man leading group, as Toseland fell into the clutches of Chili and Xaus. All of these held onto fourth at one time or another. Lavilla and Laconi swapped position for P2 in a number of different places, giving Hodgson the opportunity to break away. But his two pursuers remained fast as they raced on, and were always right with the points leader. Further back, Walker was alone in seventh, and Corser had moved up to eighth at the expense of Gramigni.

Chili was demonstrating all his experience as he homed in on the first three, and by the time he caught them Lavilla had already had another brief spell in the lead, only to find himself back behind both Hodgson and Laconi. So now it became a four way tussle, with Toseland and Xaus together behind them. When Lavilla ran a very fast line around the Curva Grande, he was able to pass Hodgson into the second chicane. The Ducati man then ran across the kerbs, so that both Laconi and Chili followed the Spaniard past him.

With the Suzuki continually sliding its way round the Parabolica, positions were constantly changing. Chili held second at one point, but the lead was disputed by Lavilla and Laconi. It even looked like Hodgson might be dropping back. Chili’s 998 gave off some worrying smoke in one curve, but seemed healthy thereafter. The same could not be said for Corser’s FP1, as the Australian was forced to withdraw from the race.

With two laps to go, Hodgson passed Chili on the main straight, and Laconi took the lead from Lavilla in the first chicane. The GSX-R managed to block Hodgson’s progress as they exited the same complex, letting Chili back into P3. Into Ascari it was Lavilla who took over the lead, whilst Chili was relegated by Hodgson again on the back straight. As the final lap began, Hodgson made his move. He passed both Laconi and Lavilla into the first turn and, although the Suzuki was right on his tail as they came through the final section of the lap, Neil just held on to win. Behind, Chili had passed Laconi in the Parabolica, putting himself on the podium in front of his most vociferous fans.

Toseland came home fifth, but alone, as Xaus had managed to crash, and then it was Walker, Martin, Borciani, Iannuzzo, Pedercini, Gramigni, Sanchini, Bussei and Foti. Hodgson’s accomplishment was added to by Xaus’ misfortune, giving him a staggering 85 point lead. After winning his eighth race in a row, Neil threw his gloves into the crowd. Some of the spectators seemed more interested in Chili’s achievement, though, as they hoisted him over their heads in celebration. It was his 47th rostrum finish.

Standings after eight races: Hodgson 200; Xaus 115; Lavilla 111; Laconi 96; Toseland 91; Walker 68; Chili 59; Martin 58; Borciani 48; Pedercini 44.


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