Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128208
World Superb ike Championship Round 2: Phillip Island, A;ustralia By GORDON RITCHIE PHOTOS By GOLD £, GOOSE PHilliP ISLAND, AUSTRAUA, MAR. 30 7.\ fter the dire processions of Valencia's races, World Superbike take two was enlivened by one of the favorite methods of entertainment enhancement - running races at a classic track, with a high lap speed. The theory is that the faster the track, the more it is down to the riders to decide how quick they can go, potentially reducing the machine or tire disparities that were so evident at Valencia. The riders were simply stratified by the Valencia track, which proved nothing more than a centrifuge; Ducati/Michelin at the top, and the others finding themselves layered by tires or machine capabilities. Despite being dominated by Ducatis of all shapes and forms, the 23-strong Phillip Island grid offered a fair mix of factory and private machines after Superpole qualifying, and it has its effect on each contest. W As expected, especially after Ruben Xaus' virtual implosion in practice (three crashes in two days), Ducati Fila's Neil Hodgson won both races. The first was a seven-second romp for the new crown price of Desmodom, the second a .070 of a second nail biter, with Xaus past the Englishman at one stage after an impressive fight through the best of the rest. Holding off Xaus with a mixture of guile and better rider aerodynamics, Hodgson and his Ducati motored just enough down the Gardner Straight to take 100 points from a possible 100, extending his championship lead to Aistare Suzuki's Gregorio Lavilla (101 battled gamely with Xaus (1111n race one before yielding the second spot after Hodgson got away. Even so, Lavllla's third-place run marked the first non-Ducat! podium finish of the year. 14 APRIL 9, 2003' c u e I e nevus 20 points over Xaus, who has now finished second four times. Of the first race Hodgson stated, somberly for a short time, then back to his usual levity, "I really wanted to win this race as a tribute to Barry Sheene, who passed away recently. I just wanted to fly, lead and not let anyone attack, so , was surprised when [Pier-Francesco] Chili came underneath me at the hairpin. I was pleased that he was there - no one wants to be on their own in a race and when Chili dropped out, I was disappointed, but I wasn't going to roll back the throttle to make a show. I continued at the same pace and went for it." In race two, Hodgson had to work for his money and enjoyed it all the more, according to the man himself. "I could definitely smell Ruben behind me," he said. "The trouble with Ruben is that he doesn't follow you; he almost touches you all the way round. He rides with a lot of confidence and very close to you so you know he is there. That was the best race this year, even though we have only had a few. When you are on your own, it's not enjoyable. When you have to race and battle and fight