Neil Hodgson took his second victory of the day today in Monza but it was a far cry from the ease with which he took the first victory as Hodgson, Laconi, Lavilla and Chili fought for the victory race long.
Though the victor in race two of the day might have been the same as in the first, as reigning World Superbike champ
Colin Edwards was moved to say mid-race: "Fellows, we got a race. I'm excited." And excited Edwards was to remain right until the chequered flag.
Hodgson had got a poor start from pole and was swarmed and pushed back down the field as the riders stormed into the first corner. Vittorio Iannuzzo was the star heading into turn one having opted for the far right hand of the track as his route from eighth to third.
A couple of corners later the order was Laconi, Walker, Toseland, Iannuzzo, Xaus, Chili, but it was clear that there was to be nothing but battle for position for the first few laps such was the charge in the field.
By the second lap Hodgson had found his way up to seventh position, but it had not looked too easy for the Brit as the closely packed field fought its way through each corner. But as he found some more space Hodgson was able to show the true power of the latest Ducati and powered along the start/finish straight from fourth to first place.
Those who thought that this would represent race over were to be proved very wrong however. Almost immediately Hodgson, a seven times 2003 winner at this point in the proceedings, found himself passed by Gregorio Lavilla's Suzuki. Lavilla was clearly making the best of his bike and is improving race by race.
Hodgson then took the race lead back and managed to hold it for a number of laps but at no time was he able to make a gap at the front for himself; unlike race one those in behind remained in close pursuit.
