The single most significant event in the 2003 British Superbike championship was the tragic early death of reigning title holder Steve Hislop, in a helicopter accident at the end of July. The Scot was a proven racing star, with Isle of Man TT and Endurance victories on top of his Superbike success, and will be sorely missed.

Steve Hislop, Yamaha - photo by Carly Rathmell

This time, the season had not been going Hizzy’s way. Paul Bird’s MonsterMob Ducati team had let him go in favour of Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne, and so the champion rejoined the Virgin Yamaha team, for whom he had ridden in 1999 and 2000. However, the 1000cc R1 didn’t suit Hislop the way the Ducati 998 had done, and he struggled to match the form that had seen him ahead for most of the previous two seasons. Just prior to his death, Steve had negotiated a switch to ETI Racing, where he would be reunited with his title-winning machine. Sadly, it was not to be, and his best showings remained a second at Thruxton and at third at Oulton Park. He was lying eighth after seven rounds of the series, four points behind young R1 team-mate Gary Mason.

Shane Byrne, Ducati - photo by Carly Rathmell

Easily the man of the year was Shakey Byrne, as his early form was just too good for the rest. Nine of his twelve wins came in the first seven meetings of the season, and he was second in the other five races during that period. After that he had enough in hand, so that even with only four top two results from the last ten races he was still way ahead. Underlining his BSB form, which also included four poles and nine fastest laps, was his World Superbike outing at Brands Hatch, where he wrapped up a double victory in convincing manner. Were it not for the uncertainty surrounding WSB 2004, Shane would be an immediate and deserving graduate to follow Neil Hodgson. However, we now know that he will make the big leap straight to MotoGP, with the Aprilia team.

John Reynolds - photo by Carly Rathmell

Byrne’s closest challenger in 2003 was Rizla Suzuki’s team leader, John Reynolds. In the GSX-R1000’s second season, ‘JR’ took the bike to four wins and eight runner-up slots. If not for injuries sustained at the first round, John would likely have been a title threat, but the broken collar bone at Silverstone compromised his early races, and he missed the first two. In the season’s second half, John out-scored Shakey, and he also followed the Ducati man home at Brands WSB, race two, after starting from pole. The second Suzuki was piloted by long term factory test rider Yukio Kagayama, and the Japanese rider proved an immediate sensation.

Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki - photo by Carly Rathmell

Yukio’s spectacular style was a hit with the fans and, once he got the hang of the UK’s unique circuits, he was a regular front runner. Unfortunately, injuries sustained at Cadwell Park put Kagayama out for the last six races, but not before he picked up a double win at Rockingham, and a first and second at Oulton Park. Other top five results helped him to seventh overall, and he also found time to run in both WSB and MotoGP! Tom Sykes and triple champion Niall Mackenzie filled in at the last two rounds, but neither finished in the top positions.

Michael Rutter, Ducati - photo by Carly Rathmell

It might have been expected to be another Ducati year, but 2003 didn’t really work out for the Red Bull backed Renegade team. Initially, it looked like Byrne would be trading victories with Michael Rutter, as the first four rounds saw the Renegade man win twice, and take four other podiums. However, things seemed to go wrong from that point onwards, and team-mate Sean Emmett was disappointing, bar a second place at Snetterton. Rutter remanined second only to Byrne in qualifying, with four pole positions, but tended to fade in the races and was more often fourth or fifth in the final two-thirds of the season.

Leon Haslam - photo by Carly Rathmell

Emmett’s fortunes improved after he was ousted by Renegade and joined ETI Ducati, replacing John Crawford and John McGuinness. From Mondello Park Sean was a regular contender, and scored seven top three results, including second and first at Brands Hatch. He was also on the pace in the WSB races at the same venue. Crawford and McGuinness had gone well enough on their 998s, but Emmett was right in the hunt and has earned the MonsterMob ride for 2004. His Renegade substitute was 20-year-old Leon Haslam, who moved up from Supersport and had some promising races to take him to equal eleventh overall.

Glen Richards, Kawasaki - photo by Carly Rathmell

Continuing to work miracles with the outdated 750cc Kawasaki, Glen Richards was anything but an also-ran. Fourteen times in the top five, the Australian was third in four races, including the first two at Silverstone. He qualified on the front row four times, and set fastest lap on the constantly curving Brands Hatch Indy circuit, in race two. His Hawk team-mates were Scott Smart and Lee Jackson, and Scott was the surprise of Mondello qualifying, putting himself in P2 on the grid. Lee didn’t better eighth in the races, but both were consistent scorers, with Smart sixth five times, and ninth in the table. Richards was an impressive fourth overall.

Steve Plater, Honda - photo by Carly Rathmell

Joining the series for the first time was the Honda VTR1000 SP-2 twin; specifically, Colin Edwards’ World Championship mount from 2002. Honda’s WSB withdrawal meant that the former Castrol team transferred to the domestic scene, running Steve Plater in the saddle. The British circuits are decidedly different from what the SP-2 had previously seen, but Plater got the bike into the top four at race three, and was on the podium by race ten. Proof of the progress made came when he won twice in August. Rumi Honda WSB refugee Mark Heckles pushed Plater when he joined on a second bike, and he finished level with Haslam on points.

Gary Mason, Yamaha - photo by Carly Rathmell

The best man not to stand on the rostrum in 2003 was Yamaha’s Gary Mason, but he came close more than once. Moving up from a Honda FireBlade to an R1, Gary proved his worth by running Hislop close, and he beat the Scot home on a few occasions. Frequently in the top eight on the grid, he qualified fourth at Mondello, and led the first race, but a trip across the grass cost him positions. More will be expected from him in 2004. After Hislop and Virgin Yamaha parted company, Mason was joined by MotoGP rider Chris Burns, although Jason Vincent filled in at Oulton Park. With limited time on the bike, both still scored points.

Dean Thomas, Yamaha - photo by Carly Rathmell

In the Appleyard Yamaha team, Paul Young was once again the lead rider. His best meeting was undoubtedly Knockhill, where he qualified second and finished in the same position for race one. Team-mate Jon Kirkham had a consistent year, scoring 62 points, while Young was substituted by both Dean Thomas, who took a ninth and a tenth, and Jamie Morley. Meanwhile, the other top man was Dean Ellison of Firepower, aka D&B Ducati. The team did not contest three mid-season rounds, but Dean was close to the top six a couple of times. His big moment came at Oulton Park, round four, where he converted fourth on the grid to third in race, only to lose control and crash at the final corner. Nevertheless, it was a heroic run on an outdated 996.

Dean Ellison, Ducati - photo by Carly Rathmell

Given the state of World Superbikes, it was an excellent year of competition. Shane Byrne may be on his way, but there are plenty of top talents staying on for 2004, plus a number of rising stars. Reynolds and Kagayama will be worth watching on the Suzukis, as will Emmett on a MonsterMob 999. Plater, Mason and Tommy Hill will be with Yamaha, Rutter may be on a Honda, and Richards and Smart get the new Kawasaki ZX-10. Keep watching!

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