San Marino, June24: Ruben Xaus won both rounds of the World Superbike Championship in San Marino on sunday. Championship leader Neil Hodgson crashed in the first race and was runner-up in the second. He was edged out by Ducati team-mate Xaus by less than two-tenths of a second, with Pierfrancesco Chili well back in third. "I'm happy with these wins because I was getting used to third-row starts", said Xaus. In the first race, the Spaniard Xaus crossed the line 0.76 seconds ahead of fellow Ducati riders James Toseland of Britain with Frenchman Regis Laconi 1.7 seconds back in third. Championship leader Hodgson failed to finish after crashing on lap two.

Hodgson had gone into the seventh round of the world championship having won 11 out of the 12 previous races this season.

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.

Toseland, who fell in race two, 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". Bureau Report