Seventh for Walker whilst Toseland falls apart.

The first race at the second round of the Superbike World Championship produced mixed fortunes for the HM Plant Ducati team and riders Chris Walker and James Toseland.

Toseland was forced to retire from the early stages of the race, while Chris Walker produced a gritty display to finish seventh at the superb 4.445km Phillip Island circuit, near Melbourne. The race was won convincingly by Ducati Corse's Neil Hodgson - his third consecutive victory in the 2003 series.

The first race at the second round of the Superbike World Championship produced mixed fortunes for the HM Plant Ducati team and riders Chris Walker and James Toseland.

Toseland was forced to retire from the early stages of the race, while Chris Walker produced a gritty display to finish seventh at the superb 4.445km Phillip Island circuit, near Melbourne. The race was won convincingly by Ducati Corse's Neil Hodgson - his third consecutive victory in the 2003 series.

While Hodgson established his lead at the front of the World Superbike field, Walker was battling for the other podium positions behind Ruben Xaus. However, the HM Plant Ducati rider lost ground in the closing stages of the race to finish some nine seconds down on third placed Gregorio Lavilla.

"That was a frustrating race, which started so well but ended in relative disappointment," said Walker. "The main reason for this was a poor tyre choice on our part for race distance. However, we've obviously learnt from that and I can guarantee that we'll be able to make better progress in race two.

"The top speed of the HM Plant Ducati was on a par with the other bikes on the track thanks to engine builder Stewart Johnstone's hard work, so I know that I've got that advantage up my sleeve when it matters most."

Toseland was unfortunate to discover that the side panel on his HM Plant Ducati had come loose and he was forced to retire after seven laps before the black flag was shown with the number 52 on it.

"That was really unlucky," admitted the 22-year-old Sheffield star. "However, my disappointment is tempered by the fact that I know that there is nothing that I could have done about it. We'll just have to put it down as a racing incident and make up for it in the second leg."

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