WSBK News

Neil Hodgson may have clinched the championship last time out at Assen, and Ducati have taken the manufacturers' crown, but for most of the rest of the competitors, with 2004 plans still not fixed, the results of this Sunday's two World Superbike races will be pivotal.

Yamaha-supported teams Belgarda and Yamaha Motor Germany will each enter an additional rider at round ten of the Supersport World Championship, at Imola, this weekend, with one-off entries granted for current Japanese 250 champion Tekkyu Kayo and five-times Australian champion Kevin Curtain.

Italian superbike riders get the chance to shine as the World Championship heads to Imola this weekend, with seven riders named for the WSBK and WSS events.

Following the statement of intent issued in the aftermath of the Dutch round of the Superbike World Championship, GSE team principal Darrell Healey has confirmed that his operation will be quitting the Superbike World Championship at the end of the 2003 season.

FGSport, organisers of the World Superbike, Supersport and Sidecar championships, have confirmed that next year's WSS series will continue to run under the same technical regulations.

New World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson made a startling admission in the wake of being handed the prestigious title-winner's trophy - the honour simply could not compare with the emotion of his daughter's birth.

Team Vitrans Honda riders Michael Laverty and Dean Thomas both took World Supersport championship points a thrilling race at Assen where the midfield group diced endlessly throughout the 16 laps.

World Superbike legend Pierfrancesco Chili has threatened to quit the series over plans to run a single tyre brand in 2004.

Britain's Neil Hodgson wrapped up the 2003 World Superbike Championship with second place in race 1 behind Ruben Xaus and a thrilling victory in race 2 at the Dutch circuit today.

The second Superbike World Championship race of the weekend at Assen was a difficult one for both HM Plant Ducati riders, with James Toseland forced to retire due to tyre problems and Chris Walker having to show his renowned grit and determination to finish in eighth place, despite riding while i

Foggy Petronas riders Troy Corser and James Haydon made progress throughout the first day of qualifying for the tenth round of the World Superbike championship at Assen, but the British ace continued to struggle to match his Aussie team-mate's performance.

The importance of the Assen race to the whole World Superbike paddock is immense, and for more than just the reasons of the Circuit van Drenthe's long and proud history as a motorcycle racing venue.

The BKM Dark Dog Honda team have announced their withdrawal from the World Supersport Championship, with immediate effect. Thus, the two-man team of Australian Broc Parkes and Frenchman Christophe Cogan will not race at the Dutch round of the series, at Assen, this coming weekend.

Having surprised the Supersport world by romping to a dominating victory last time out at Brands Hatch, Stephane Chambon has spent the mid summer break since then away from road racing, taking part in rallies in his French homeland.

Ducati Fila's Neil Hodgson is currently experiencing the proverbial 'calm before the storm', as he faces up to one of the biggest challenges of his career next week.

Foggy Petronas Racing's completed its final day of testing at Valencia with Troy Corser and Briton Jamie Morley reporting successful runs on the Petronas FP1.

Carl Fogarty took to the saddle of the Petronas FP1 during Foggy Petronas Racing's first day of a two day private test in Valencia, Spain yesterday for further development of the Malaysian superbike.

Foggy Petronas Racing have announced that they will not be renewing James Haydon's contract at the end of the season.

Foggy Petronas Racing team manager Nigel Bosworth has backed the principle of unifying Superbike rules across the world.

Shane 'Shakey' Byrne made unique history at Brands Hatch today when he became the first ever British wild card rider to score a double victory when he added a thrilling race two win to his first ever World Superbike Championship triumph in front of another massive crowd.

The changing weather conditions in the wet Superpole session at Brands Hatch today caught out Gregorio Lavilla, who was unlucky to finish down in thirteenth place.

Chris Walker backed up his pre-event pledge and gave his legion of fans something to cheer about at the Brands Hatch European round of the Superbike World Championship - the biggest event on championship calendar.

Entitled the European round, Brands Hatch could be renamed the World round, such is the scale and importance of the second British-based race of the season.

Runaway British Superbike Championship leader Shane Byrne faces the biggest race of his career so far at Brands Hatch this weekend, where the Brit will take on the world's best as the WSBK series visits the UK for the second time this season.