SILVERSTONE, England, 16 June 2003 — World superbike leader Neil Hodgson of Britain, riding a Ducati, won both races in the sixth round of the championship on Sunday to underline his dominance.
Hodgson, who won the first 20-lap race by about half a second over compatriot James Toseland, repeated the dose by a similar margin in the second race, this time over Spain’s Gregorio Lavilla. Neil Hodgson has now taken 11 out of the 12 races this year and has 295 points, 130 ahead of second-placed superbike rider Toseland, who finished fourth in yesterday’s second race.
In Germany two weeks ago, Toseland ended Hodgson’s quest for a record 10 successive superbike race victories.
Hodgson, 29, was forced to work hard in the first race yesterday and was involved in a four-way battle for the lead with Toseland, Spain’s Ruben Xaus and Britain’s Chris Walker. At one stage he was fourth, but managed to sneak victory, though it was Toseland’s ride that caught the eye after a poor start. “I think I just got too eager and I just dropped the clutch totally,” said Toseland. “But I knew if I took my time I had plenty of time to get through.”
In the second race, Hodgson started poorly, at one stage dropping to ninth, but fought his way back.
“Pole position is very bad because you’re on the inside and it allows everyone else to drop underneath you, which is what happened,” Hodgson told BBC TV.
