World Superbikes
Xaus takes second double
23 September 2003
Ruben Xaus won both races at the penultimate round of the World Superbike championship in Imola, his second double of the season. The two races were dominated by battles between Xaus and his Fila...
Mladin leads Suzuki 1-2
23 September 2003
Yoshimura Suzuki has taken first and second places in the AMA Superbike championship with Mat Mladin beating team-mate Aaron Yates to the top of the table at the final round in Birmingham,...
Laconi tops Imola practice
23 September 2003
Regis Laconi has topped this morning’s practice session at the penultimate round of the World Superbike championship in Imola, Italy. The NCR Ducati rider took his 998 to a fastest lap of 1:50.540,...
GSE quits World Superbikes
16 September 2003
The British GSE Racing team will quit the World Superbike series following the final round of the 2003 championship at Magny-Cours on October 19. The team has not been able to secure full manufacturer...
Hodgson leads from the start at Assen
02 September 2003
Neil Hodgson has started the weekend as he means to go on, topping the time sheets in the first practice session at Assen in a round that could see him secure the World Superbike...
GSE Racing full statement
02 September 2003
HM Plant Ducati Team Principal Darrell Healey announced at Assen that the team is unlikely to return to World Superbikes next year. Here is what he said: " Due to circumstances beyond our control, GSE Racing is unclear about certain key aspects of the 2004 Superbike World Championship. In addition, due to the uncertainty surrounding the technical rules, we are not in a position to confirm...
Chili on pole at Assen
02 September 2003
Frankie Chili has taken his first pole position of the season after putting in the best lap in a wet Superpole session at the Assen round of the World Superbike championship. Rain affected the...
Hodgson is champion
02 September 2003
Neil Hodgson is the 2003 World Superbike champion. Hodgson had to settle for second behind team-mate Ruben Xaus in the first race at Assen today but it was enough to take the championship. The second...
GSE Racing set to quit WSB
02 September 2003
In the wake of controversial new regulations GSE Racing, the team behind HM Plant Ducati riders James Toseland and Chris Walker, looks on the verge of quitting World Superbikes. In an announcement...
Neil Hodgson becomes a father
02 September 2003
Neil Hodgson can start celebrating early after becoming a father today, Tuesday September 2. Holly Hodgson was born a 2:30pm weighing seven pounds after being induced a week early to allow Neil to be present at the birth. Both baby and mother Kathryn are doing fine, allowing dad Neil to concentrate on the World Superbike races at Assen this weekend, which could see the Brit become the world...
Lavilla steals provisional pole
02 September 2003
Gregorio Lavilla has taken the provisional pole position for Assen World Superbikes beating Chris Walker to the top spot by just over a tenth of a second after the session was red flagged. The first...
Foggy rides again
01 September 2003
Carl Fogarty indulged himself with a few laps in the saddle of the Petronas FP1 during the first day of a two-day private test at Valencia in Spain. ” I am officially old! ” said team boss Fogarty. ...
Send your support for Hodgson
26 August 2003
Britain’s Neil Hodgson is aiming to claim the World Superbike championship at Round 10 in Assen on September 7. And we want your messages of support. The former British Superbike champion has...
Zongshen 1 on pole for Oschersleben 24 hours
19 August 2003
Zongshen 1 will be on pole for the start of the Oschersleben 24 hour World Endurance race after Warick Nowland set the fastest time of the weekend on a Suzuki GSX-R1000. Nowland was the only rider to...
Phase One take title lead at Oschersleben 24 Hours
19 August 2003
The British Phase one team have finished second at the Oschersleben 24 Hour round of the World Endurance Championship. This moves them into first place in the championship with one round left. The...
Foggy drops Haydon
12 August 2003
James Haydon will not be riding the FP1 in World Superbikes next year after the Foggy Petronas team decided not to renew his contract for 2004. The decision comes after Haydon’s disappointing...
Yamaha signs van den Goorbergh for 2004
05 August 2003
Yamaha has announced Jurgen van den Goorbergh will continue to race for the Yamaha Belgarda team in World Supersport in 2004. The 33-year-old Dutchman is currently second in the championship on an R6.
Suzuka Eight Hour underway
01 August 2003
The opening practice sessions for this weekend’s Suzuka Eight Hour endurance race have begun. Honorary Brit and BSB star Yukio Kagayama and team-mate Atsushi Watanabe recorded the fastest lap of the...
Kagayama second on the grid at Suzuka
01 August 2003
BSB star Yukio Kagayama has qualified in second place for the start of tomorrow’s Suzuka eight-hour endurance race. Kagayama, who has competed in the World Superbike, British Superbike, GP and now...
Honda triumph at Suzuka after top three crash
01 August 2003
BSB star Yukio Kagayama lost his chance to win the Suzuka eight-hour endurance race when an oil spill took out his team after just one lap. Kagayama’s team mate Atsushi Watanabe started second on the...
WSB tyre manufacturer announced
29 July 2003
Pirelli has been officially announced as the manufacturers of the ‘control tyres’ for the Superbike World Championship in 2004 and 2005. The tyre firm will supply rubber for all the teams in the three...
Your pictures and stories from Brands
22 July 2003
Here are all the pictures and stories from Brands submitted by the readers of motorcyclenews.com. if you have any you’d like to share, email them to mcn.online@emap.com. Brands – It’s changed my...
Biggest Brands ever
22 July 2003
A staggering 120,000 people turned up to Brands Hatch to make the WSB round the biggest ever motorcycle meeting in the UK. Even the sun turned up on Sunday, making the weather as hot as the racing,...
The stars
22 July 2003
Here is where you will find our pics of the racers and stars at Brands Hatch. Send your pics to mcn.online@emap.com.
Have you won Brands WSB tickets?
22 July 2003
Are you one of the lucky winners in our Brands WSB ticket giveaway, in association with Bennetts Insurance Services? One winner was selected for sending us the funniest tale from previous Brands events, and two more were selected at random after sending us an email with the answer to our quick question. The funniest story winner is Jon Germany (Jon, could you email mcn.online@emap.com with your...
Your essential guide to Brands World Superbikes
22 July 2003
Your essential 16-page guide to Brands World Superbikes is free with MCN, July 23. Find out how you can help Hodgson on his way to victory, and find out why he thinks BSB star Yukio Kagayama will give...
The girls
22 July 2003
Here are all the brolly babes we could find. If you have any more, email them to mcn.online@emap.com.
Alstare 1-2 in free practice
22 July 2003
Fujiwara Katsuaki and Stephane Chambon made it an Alstare Suzuki 1-2 as they set the fastest times in this morning’s World Supersport free practice session at Brands Hatch. The weather conditions had improved significantly from the torrential rain on Friday leaving a dry track for the 600cc machines. Katsuaki put in 21 laps in the 45 minute practice session to take the top spot with a best time of...
Superstock qualifying practice: Two Brits on front row
22 July 2003
James Ellison and Luke Quigley will be starting from the front row for the European Championship Superstock race at Brands Hatch. Pole was taken by Italian Michel Fabrizio, but the two British riders are second and third, with Gianluca Vizziello fourth. Fifth is John Laverty, with Ben Wylie in seventh, Kelvin Reilly ninth, Ben Wilson twelfth and David Gatenby in 28th. Tom Van Looy and Gerry Gepts...
Brits dominate in Brands first practice
22 July 2003
Seven out of the top ten riders in today’s World Superbike free practice session at Brands Hatch are British and five of them are wildcards. HM Plant Ducati rider Chris Walker took the fastest time in...
Byrne does Brands double
22 July 2003
Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne has done the double at Brands after a scintillating second race. BSB regulars Byrne and John Reynolds made the race their own after early leader Sean Emmett was black-flagged for...
Xaus on provisional pole
22 July 2003
Ruben Xaus has taken provisional pole after a very wet first qualifying session for World Superbikes at Brands Hatch. The Fila Ducati rider upped his pace from the mornings practice session knocking a...
Reynolds on pole for WSB
22 July 2003
John Reynolds will be on pole position for the start of the World Superbike race at Brands Hatch on Sunday after topping a rain drenched Superpole session. A light rain started just before the session...
BSB regulars lead WSB qualifying practice
22 July 2003
Shane Byrne has gone fastest in qualifying practice for Sundays WSB races at Brands Hatch. Sean Emmett and John Reynolds complete the provisional front row with Regis Laconi the only WSB regular on the front row. HM Plant riders Toseland and Walker are fifth and sixth, in front of championship leader, factory Ducati rider Neil Hodgson in seventh. Gregorio Lavilla was eighth quickest on the Alstare...
Chambon takes Supersport Victory
22 July 2003
Stephane Chambon led from start-to-finish to take a commanding World Supersport victory at Brands Hatch. The Suzuki rider posted the fastest lap on his way to building up a 7.045 second lead at the...
Hodgson answers your questions
22 July 2003
We asked you to send in the questions you would ask World Superbike championship leader Neil Hodgson. Well we’ve taken the best and the factory Ducati rider has taken the time to reply. Read on to...