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World Superbike Championship Round S: Misano spot he would maintain, making up for his first-race eighth. Hodgson caught Bostrom, with Edwards and Antonello also close behind. Hodgson then took a turn at the front after stuffing his way under Bostrom in the tight left-hander that leads to the series of fast lefts. Goddard, meanwhile, pulled the Benelli into the pits after just two laps - following a crash caused when the engine cases decked out. The fight for third continued apace and Lavilla wanting revenge after his third-place finish in race one was taken away from him when Castrol Honda protested that he'd overtaken on a yellow flag. The chase for the podium freight train included Edwards, Antonello, Lavilla and Bayliss, who had been boxed in during the restart and had .to struggle to the front positions. Hodgson was only .3 of a second ahead of Bostrom, who was refusing to give up the chase of the Englishman. Bayliss was also working hard, but Edwards seemed to be holding the pack up somewhat, on tires that had started to go off after only a few laps. The gap between second-placed Bostrom and third-placed Edwards was 2.5 seconds after less than half race distance. The second group was, by that time, slowly being caught by Yanagawa. Bayliss, keen to move away from the chasers to hunt down Bostrom and Hodgson, made a move on Antonello to take over fifth place. Antonello then dropped off the back of the group, a pack still headed by Edwards. Hodgson, smooth and precise, was riding in marked contrast to Bostrom, who was wagging the tail under braking. Both approaches were proving to Australian youngster Broc Parkes (36) had a memorable second race when he beat not only James Toseland (52), but also Troy Corser and PierFrancesco Chili. The Ducati rider ended up seventh. be effective, while Lavilla was lying in wait behind Edwards in third place. Bayliss, sitting behind, was having no trouble staying with them, as sixth-placed Antonello continued to drop back. Disaster struck for Edwards as he crashed at Quercia, blaming the over-hot tires as the cause. Jumping to his feet, Edwards was able to able to rescue the bike from the gravel trap and return to the track to continue in the race, finishing an eventual 11 th overall. Edwards' miscue handed Lavilla third place on the road. Lavilla and Bayliss battled for third, but Lavilla held his position for some time. Eventually, Bayliss took third going under Lavilla in turn one, making his move stick. Then he started to reel in the leading duo of Hodgson and Bostrom. Outbraking Hodgson with only a few laps left, Bostrom was looking strong and assured, with Bayliss in hot pursuit of them both. Edwards, meanwhile, had moved up to ninth place, working his way past a majority of the field, as Lavilla tailed Bayliss and Yanagawa made it up to fifth place. The race order remained the same for two whole laps - Bostrom, Hodgson, Bayliss, Lavilla, Yanagawa, and Antonello. It was clear at this point from the increasing gap from Bostrom to Hodgson that the Californian was secure with just a handful of laps remaining. A new battle was being played out on lap 19 as Corser led Broc Parkes from Toseland, led by Xaus and Laconi fighting a battle up ahead, followed by Chili. Toseland moved onto the heels of Corser and did him on the brakes into Tranmoto, forcing him wide with a virtual block pass, and taking his position on the exit of the long left. Toseland, catching Chili, simply left Corser behind after that, piling misery upon the Aprilia team. Edwards was up to 13th place as Toseland moved around Chili, on the same 21st lap. Immediately afterward, Laconi had slowed down and then entered the pits, his rear tire wrecked. Now with just two more laps to go, Hodgson was visibly slowing, and although it was difficult to see why, it soon became evident that his rear has done the same as Laconi's and shed its tread in uneven, flapping pieces. With Hodgson falling back rapidly in almost impossible riding conditions, Bostrom was leading from Bayliss, Lavilla in third ahead of Antonello who was followed by Okada, Xaus, Parkes and Toseland. Corser and Chili were next up, with Edwards in the next place but still nowhere near the leading bunch. The final lap saw Hodgson continue to ride, hoping to get a point, but failing to do so. Bostrom crossed the finish line with a huge lead from Bayliss. Lavilla rode very well to take a real third this time, from Antonello, Okada, and Xaus - who stayed ahead of Parkes, while Toseland took a well-deserved eighth place. Corser was behind him, then Chili, with Edwards doing well to come home in 11th. It was a heartbreak of a race for Hodgson, but bulldog spirit, similar to that shown by Edwards. But the leading story was all Bostrom· a rider who was quicker than any other in race two, and who cannot wait to get back to California for the Laguna Seca races. eN Santamonica Circuit Miano, Italy Results: June 24, 2001 SUPERBIKE QUALlFVING: I. Neil Hodgson (1:35.235): 2. Troy Corser (1:35.396): 3. CoHn Edwords (I :35.532): 4. Ben Bostrom (I :35.665): 5. Regis Loeoni (1:35.834); 6. Troy Boyliss (1:35.906); 12 JULY 4.2001 • cue I • n e _ so Colin Edwards (1) rides a crash· damaged castrol Honda to 11th in the second race. The Texan was holding down third when he lost the front end and crashed. 7. Gregorio L8ville (t :36.074); 8. Alessllndro Antonello (135.464); 9. Steve Martin (1:36.339): 10. Akin~ Yenagawa (1:36.344); 11. T8dllyuki Okada (1:36.352); 12. Ruben Xous (1:36.459); 13. Pier· Francesco Chili (1 :36.799); 14. Jemes Tosehmd (1:36.831): 15. Lucio Pedereini (1:37.457): 16. Mlluro Lucchiari (1 :38.002); 17. Robert Ulm (1:36.664); 18. Alex Gromi9ni (1:36.805); 19. Broc Porkes (1 :36.875); 20. Moreo Boreioni (I :37.008): 21. Paolo 610fll (1:37.134): 22. Juen Borja (1 :37.31 0): 23. Michele Molotesto (1 :37.350): 24. Bertrand Stey (1:37.451); 25. Stephane Cham bon (I :37 .466); 26. GIovanni Bussei (1 :37.487): 27. Peter Goddard (1 :37.521); 28. Luee Pesini (I :37.895); 29. Martin Croggill (1 :37.990); 30. Ludovie Hulon (1 :38.680);31. Matteo Cempane (1:38.951): 32. Jiri Mrkyvko (1:39.750): 33. Jovier Rodriguez (I :40.377); 34. Glulillno 5artoni (1 :41.380). RACE ONE: 1. Troy Beyllss (Due); 2. Ben Bostrom (Due); 3. Colin Edwards (Han): 4. Gregorio LlivillZl (KllW); 5. Akirll Yanagawa (Kaw);6. Neil Hodgson (Due); 7. Troy Corser (Apr); 8. Alessandro Antonello (IIpr): 9. Todoyukl Okodo (Hon); 10. Ruben Xaus (Due); 11. James Tosellind (Due); 12. Pier-Francesco Chili (Suz); 13. Steve Martin (Due); 14. Stephane Chambon (Suz); 15. Alessandro Grllmigni (Yam); 16. Bernard Stey (Hon); 17. Marco Borcieni (Due); 18. M.iehele Malatesta (Kaw); 19. M.lIrtin Craggill (Due); 20. Luee Pasini (Due); 21. Juen Borja (Yam); 22. Javier Rodriguez (Hon); 23. Matteo Cempana (Due). Time: 40 min.. 23.410 sec. Distance: 25 laps. 62.9 miles Average speed: 93.482 mph Margin of victory: 0.482 sec. Fastest lap: Troy Beyliss, I :36.090/94.3 mph, lep 2 RACE TWO: 1. Ben Bostrom (Due); 2. Troy Bayliss (Due); 3. Gregorio Lavillll (Kaw); 4. Aiesslindro Antonello (Apr); 5. Tadayuki Okllda (Hon); 6. Ruben Xous (Due); 7. Broc Porkes (Due); 8. James Toseland (Due); 9. Troy Corser (Apr); 10. Pier-Francesco Chili (502); II. Colin Edwards (Hon); 12. Alessandro Grllmigni (Yam); 13. Stephene Chllmbon (So2); 14. Giovani Bussei (Due); 15. Mauro &linchini (Due); 16. Neil Hodgson (Due); 17. Pliolo Blore (Due): 18. Bemord Stey (Hen): 19. Juon Bo~o (Vom): 20. Jiri Mtkyvko (Due). Tune: 40 min., 20.677 sec. Distance: 25 laps, 62.9 miles Average speed: 93.589 mph Margin of victory: 7.547 sec. Fastest lap: Neil Hod9son, 1:35.403/94.858 mph. lap 2 WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDlNQS (After 8 of 13 rounds): I. Troy Bayliss (250/4 wins); 2. Colin Edwords (203/3 wins); 3. Troy Corser (T79{2 wins); 4. Pier-Francesco Chili (153/1 win); 5. Ben Bostrom (147{2 wins); 6. Neil Hodgson (141/1 win); 7. Gregorio Laville (116); 8. Akira Von09awa (110): 9. Tadayuki Okodo (100): 10. Stephane Chambon (80): 11. Ruben Xous (77): 12. Regis Laconi (75); 13. Hitoyasu Izutsu (63); 14. H. Temeda (50/2 wins); 15. James Toseland (37); 16. Broc Parkes (36); 17. Giovllnni Bussel (28); 18. Robert Uim (27): 19. Alessondro Antonello (21); 20. (TIE) IIkira Ryo/Shiniehi Ito (20). Upcoming Rounds Round 9 . Monterey, California, July 8 Round 10· Brands Hatch, England, August 5