Silverstone, june 17: England's Neil Hodgson continued his domination of the World Superbike championship by registering back-to-back wins in round six at Silverstone. Hodgson powered his Ducati Fila 999 to victory in race one but only after an exhilarating dogfight which saw fellow Briton James Toseland take second and Spain's Ruben Xaus third. But the Isle of Man-based racer returned to winning ways from pole position in race one after seeing Yukio Kagayama hit the front early on the Rizla Suzuki. Spaniard Lavilla nipped ahead on the Corona Alstare Suzuki, only to slide out later in the proceedings. And Hodgson re-asserted himself with five laps to go, holding on despite intense pressure from Toseland and Xaus. Kagayama again started well in race two, but the Japanese rider was soon passed by Frenchman by Regis Laconi. Hodgson's bad start saw him slip to ninth, and Xaus was forced to take a detour across the infield after an incident with John Reynolds. But Hodgson streamed through the pack and with just five laps gone had returned to contention in fourth behind Lavilla, Laconi and Kagayama.

Hodgson fought his way to the front and Xaus reeled in the third-placed Kagayama, who was then overtaken by HM Plant Ducati's Toseland.

Suzuki rider Lavilla kept up the pressure right to the end but Hodgson held on to win by 0.493 seconds.

Bureau Report