2003

Year: 2003

Month: ALL

Martin quickest at Valencia test

16 December 2003

Australian Steve Martin has gone fastest in the WSB test session at Valencia this weekend. The DFX Ducati rider completed 65 laps, with a fastest time of 1:36.454. Second quickest was Leon Haslam on...

The MCN WSB archive is open

16 December 2003

There are hundreds of World Superbike stories currently in our archives for you to browse. We’re adding less additional content than usual to this section while we focus on improving the overall...

McCoy tests WSB Ducati

16 December 2003

This if the first exclusive picture of Garry McCoy in action on his Ducati 999 World Superbike. The Aussie is at Valencia today and tomorrow to test the V-twin, which he’s riding after a disastrous...

2004 superbikes head-to-head

09 December 2003

The all-new 2004 superbikes have gone head to head on a racetrack for the first time at the AMA Superbike test in Florida, USA. So far, Honda is winning, but Yamaha has caused the biggest shock. The...

McCoy moves to WSB

09 December 2003

Garry McCoy has confirmed that he will ride for the NCR Ducati squad in the 2004 World Superbike Championship. The Australian rider, who was with the Kawasaki MotoGP team this year, will replace Regis...

WSB loses Canadian round

02 December 2003

The Canadian round of the 2004 World Superbike championship on July 4 has been cancelled following a circuit inspection. Work required for the Mont Tremblant circuit to be homologated will not be...

WSB paddock displays at Bologna Motor Show

02 December 2003

Fans will get the chance to see the World Superbike paddock up close and personal at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy. Seven teams will be present with their race transporters and the bikes that...

Make Hodgson ‘Sports Personality 2003’

25 November 2003

It has been a momentous year for Neil Hodgson. The Burnley-born rider dominated the 2003 World Superbike championship, winning it with races to spare. He also became a father for the first time. Your...

Neil Hodgson turns 30

18 November 2003

Neil Hodgson turned 30 years of age on November 20, after a year which has seen him claim the World Superbike championship, land a MotoGP ride with the D’Antin Ducati squad and become a...

Alstare Suzuki officially leave WSB

18 November 2003

Alstare Suzuki has released a statement officially confirming its departure from the World Superbike series in 2004. Alstare based its decision on a statement by the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers...

Superbike test dates announced

18 November 2003

World Superbike organiser FG Sport has announced the final dates for this years World Superbike winter tests. There will be two separate tests taking place at the Valencia circuit in Spain on December...

Walker signs for Foggy

11 November 2003

Chris Walker has signed for the Foggy Petronas World Superbike team for 2004. The 31-year-old Brit has signed a one-year deal to ride the FP1 alongside current rider Troy Corser, with an option for a...

Rutter takes fourth Macau win

11 November 2003

BSB star Michael Rutter took his fourth Macu GP win today, Saturday November 15. The British rider led from the start of the race on his Renegade Ducati to eventually beat closest rival John McGuiness...

Foret to ride R6 for 2004

04 November 2003

Fabien Foret will be riding a factory backed Yamaha R6 in next years World Supersport championship. The 2002 Supersport champion has ditched his Kawasaki ZX-6RR in favour of a Belgarda Yamaha R6 and...

Date change for Brands WSB

04 November 2003

The date of the World Superbike round at Brands Hatch in Kent has been changed to August 1 for 2004. The racing was scheduled for the weekend of July 25. World Supersport rounds have now been...

Hodgson signs for Ducati MotoGP team

01 November 2003

Neil Hodgson has signed for the D’Antin satellite Ducati team for 2004. The reigning World Superbike champion will ride a Desmosedici Ducati alongisde a soon to be confirmed team-mate. Hodgson will...

Hodgson and Xaus take a win each

14 October 2003

The Fila Ducati team has taken the spoils at the last World Superbike race of the season with both Neil Hodgson and Ruben Xaus taking a win each. The first race saw Hodgson lead throughout most of the...

Ducati confirms 2004 WSB team

14 October 2003

Ducati Corse has confirmed that it will definitely be competing in next year’s World Superbike championship with two new riders. The factory’s superbike effort will now be fronted by HM Plant’s James...

Toseland takes first WSB pole

14 October 2003

James Toseland has taken his first ever World Superbike pole position in the run up to Sunday’s race at Magny Cours. The HM Plant Ducati rider stole the top spot from factory Ducati rider Neil Hodgson...

Two new teams for WSB

14 October 2003

Two new teams have announced plans to move up to the World Superbike championship in 2004. At a time when manufacturers are pulling out of the championship left, right and centre World Supersport team...

Walker tops first practice

14 October 2003

Chris Walker has topped the time sheets in the first practice session for the last round of the World Superbike championship this weekend. Walker and HM Plant Ducati team-mate James Toseland dominated...

Phase One win World Endurance title

07 October 2003

The British Phase One team overcame a dramatic build-up to the final round of the 2003 World Endurance championship at Vellelunga in Italy, to go on to take the title. Regular riders Jason Pridmore...

Entry list for GSX-R Cup released

07 October 2003

The entry list has been released for the Worldwide GSX-R Cup Final races, which will see Brits Steve Brogan, Kenny Everest and Ben Mossey compete against 25 identically-prepared Suzuki GSX-R750s. The...

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...

Xaus takes first WSB pole

23 September 2003

Ruben Xaus has taken his first ever pole position in the World Superbike championship after clocking the fastest lap in the Superpole session for the penultimate round at Imola. The Spanish factory...

Toseland on provisional pole

23 September 2003

James Toseland has taken his HM Plant Ducati to provisional pole position at the Imola round of the World Superbike championship. After setting the pace in practice it was Regis Laconi who continued...

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...

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...

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...