Imola, Sept 29: Ruben Xaus of Spain won both world superbike races in Italy after champion Neil Hodgson made mistakes. Ruben Xaus of Spain was the winner of both rounds of the world superbike championships at Imola in Italy on Sunday (September 28).
The tall Ducati rider swapped the lead repeatedly during the first race with his team mate, Neil Hodgson of Great Britain, who has already taken the championship. But late in the race Hodgson lost his momentum while passing back-markers and ran slightly off the track to give Xaus the win.
Hodgson was second after recovering with Regis Laconi of France third. Gregorio Lavilla of Spain was fourth. Pierfrancesco Chili of Italy stalled on the grid but came storming back to take fifth place by the finish. In the second race Hodgson again took the lead from the grid but could not get away from his team mate. When Xaus made a move on Hodgson in the early laps, and took the lead, the Briton came straight back to overtake and resume first place. But with three laps to go Xaus controlled a sliding bike to speed through the chicane slightly ahead of Hodgson and accelerated hard to take the lead and hold it.

Hodgson closed up on the Spaniard but then made a mistake, possibly while changing down gears, to plough off the track again. This time he had to ride right across a gravel trap and turn the bike around - losing a great deal of time.


Xaus held the lead to the end with Laconi second and Lavilla third. Hodgson finished fourth with Chris Walker of Britain fifth, earning an important 11 points towards the championship.


Ivan Clementi of Italy crashed his Kawasaki heavily early in the race but walked away. James Toseland of Great Britain also crashed his Ducati heavily.


In the championship Hodgson is the champion and now has 464 points. Xaus has taken second place with 341 points after taking a total of 50 at Imola with just one round remaining at Magny-Cours in France. Laconi has a tally of 257 ahead of James Toseland who failed to score any at Imola and remains on 240 points.


Championship leaders: 1. Neil Hodgson UK 464 2. Ruben Xaus Spain 341 3. Regis Laconi France 257 4. James Toseland UK 240 5. Gregorio Lavilla Spain 230 6. Chris Walker UK 202 7. Pierfrancesco Chili Italy 197

Bureau Report