Misano, June 23: Spain's Ruben Xaus won both races in the seventh round of the world superbike championship on Sunday (June 22) to throw down a belated challenge to standings leader Neil Hodgson of Britain.
With five rounds and 10 races to go, Xaus has moved into second place in the title race on 208 points, still 107 behind Hodgson but with a big psychological boost after Sunday. Hodgson, who won 11 of the first 12 races this year, crashed on the second lap of race one and was then edged out by Xaus in race two by just over 0.2 seconds. In race one, Xaus won in 40 minutes 22.423 seconds, just clear of Briton James Toseland in 40:23.183 and France's Regis Laconi in 40:24.134. All three were riding Ducatis. There was drama even before the start of the race when Christian Zaiser's Aprillia burst into flames as the warm-up lap go under way. The Austrian avoided any serious injury by crashing into the pit-lane wall and falling off his blazing machine.


Then Hodgson, who started on pole on his Ducati, came unstuck less than two minutes into the contest. Following the demise of Hodgson, who was already pulling away from the field, Laconi led briefly before Toseland went to the front with veteran Italian Pierfrancesco Chili in third.


The Briton was then overtaken by Xuas and Chili who had a fierce battle over the closing laps. The 39-year-old Chili was fastest round the bends and produced a huge roar from the crowd as he briefly took the lead. But the superior power of Xuas's Ducati saw him fly past Chili on the straight. On the final lap Chili crashed spectacularly as he made a late bid for victory.


Race two started predictably with Hodgson surging into the lead. But Chili thrilled the Italian crowd by taking the lead before finishing third to the more powerful Ducati 999s of Xuas and Hodgson.


Toseland, who had a crash in Saturday's qualifying and had to retire in the second race with a fuel line split on Sunday, has slipped to third in the overall standings on 185.


The Briton said: "I was so pleased with my podium finish in race one, especially as I was feeling pretty beaten up after yesterday's crash, but to have to retire from race two is very disappointing.


"I came to Misano second in the championship and now I'm 23 points behind Ruben after his double victory.



"Apart from that it has been a positive weekend in many ways. I just hope that this is my bad luck over for the season."


The first three riders home in both races were all on Ducatis and the team now leads the manufacturers' standings on 350 points, well clear of Suzuki on 182.


The next round is at Laguna Seca in California on July 13 and with 25 points for a win Xaus will be looking to exert more pressure on leader Hodgson.


Leading results from the seventh round of the superbike world championship on Sunday: Race one (25 laps) 1. Ruben Xaus (Spain) Ducati 40 minutes 22.423 seconds 2. James Toseland (Britain) Ducati 40:23.183 3. Regis Laconi (France) Ducati 40:24.134 4. Gregorio Lavilla (Spain) Suzuki 40:33.356 5. Chris Walker (Britain) Ducati 40:42.910 6. Steve Martin (Australia) Ducati 40:45.657 7. Troy Corser (Australia) Petronas 40:49.506 8. Lucio Pedercini (Italy) Ducati 40:54.449 9. Mauro Sanchini (Italy) Kawasaki 40:59.124 10. Ivan Clementi (Italy) Kawasaki 41:10.960


Race two (25 laps) 1. Xaus 40:17.321 2. Neil Hodgson (Britain) Ducati 40:17.565 3. Pierfrancesco Chili (Italy) Ducati 40:24.217 4. Laconi 40:31.135 5. Lavilla 40:34.720 6. Pedercini 40:36.666 7. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Italy) Suzuki 40:41.972 8. Walker 40:46.485 9. Martin 40:49.631 10. Corser 40:50.837


Leading overall standings: Riders 1. Hodgson 315 points 2. Xaus 208 3. Toseland 185 4. Laconi 174 5. Lavilla 155 6. Walker 129 7. Chili 118 8. Martin 95 9. Pedercini 85 9. Marco Borciani (Italy) Ducati 80


Manufacturers 1. Ducati 350 2. Suzuki 182 3. Petronas 67 4. Kawasaki 63 5. Yamaha 45 6. Honda 21


Bureau Report