WSBK News

The World Superbike Championship moves to the other side of the globe this weekend for the second round at Phillip Island, Australia with HM Plant Ducati riders Chris Walker and James Toseland eager to build on their joint best result - a third - taken at the first round in Valencia.

Two time world 500cc motorcycle champion Barry Sheene will be remembered during a special two-wheel tribute at this weekend's World Superbike round at Phillip Island.

"Second place - It were all right weren't it?" - so said reigning Sidecar World Champion Steve Abbott in his usual understated fashion.

Carl Fogarty made a surprise return to the track at Malaysia yesterday, when he performed demonstration laps on the FP1 Superbike - just one hour before the start of the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix [pictured].

James Haydon has decided to set up his new home base in the Pyrenees principality of Andorra. The Foggy Petronas pilot will join a host of motorcycling stars when he moves to the tax haven in the next few weeks.

A rather amusing story has emerged from the race debut of the Foggy Petronas FP1 at Valencia last weekend - or more precisely, it's spectacular habit of throwing flames a foot or more from the under seat exhausts when the throttle's shut off.

Foggy Petronas Racing's Troy Corser and long-time girlfriend, Sam Davies, have made their engagement official and also revealed that they are expecting their first child.

A crash in the first race wasn't enough to dampen a great start for Troy Corser and the new Foggy Petronas FP1 at Valencia yesterday, as the only former World Champion on the grid took a battling seventh in his second outing.

The top ten WSS riders World Championship standings after round one at Valencia, Spain.

Factory Ducati rider Neil Hodgson scored a perfect double race win today at the opening rounds of the World Superbike Championship, at Valencia, Spain.

Ruben Xaus was unable to match his team-mate Neil Hodgson in Superpole this afternoon, but while that wasn;t much of a shock given the Brit's pace all weekend, Xaus also lost out to James Toseland.

In a meeting held yesterday at Valencia, the Superbike Commission, unanimously approved the following proposal concerning the restrictors for 1000cc Superbike machines, for the 2004 season. The engines must be fitted with restrictors as follows:

Katsuaki Fujiwara held on to pole position for tomorrow's opening round of the 2003 World Supersport championship, despite not improving on his best lap from yesterday.

Troy Corser was straight on the pace during Foggy Petronas Racing's first day of competitive action at the Valencia World Superbike season opener.

Hosting its fourth World Superbike/Supersport event, Valencia's modern and spectator-friendly facilities provide an ideal venue for the first round of the 2003 season.

Ducati's 'third' chapter in the World Superbike Championship gets underway with the new 999, officially launched today in Milan.

At the official launch of the Ducati Fila team, Ducati Corse Managing director Claudio Domenicali gave the following opening statement, describing 2003 as one of the most demanding year's faced by the team.

Ducati will continue to build on the achievements made over the last four years with Shell Advance motorcycle oils as it mounts a new challenge on the World Superbike crown.

Breil has announced that not will it continue to sponsor Ducati Corse in the World Superbike Championship, but will also make its debut in MotoGP with the Borgo Panigale factory.

Foggy Petronas Racing's chief engineer, Steve Thompson, took heart from the performance of James Haydon after wet weather brought a frustrating end to the second day of the official World Superbike winter test at Valencia.

The FIM has today released a full list of the homologated Superbike machines for the 2003 season. New for this year are the latest Aprilia RSV 1000, Ducati 999, Petronas FP-1 and Suzuki GSX 1000 racers.

The FIM has today released a list of the homologated Supersport and Stocksport / Superproduction machines for the 2003 season.

Troy Corser will start the new World Superbike season wearing a new helmet after signing a two-year deal with French manufacturer Shark.

James Haydon got his first chance to test the latest Shoei helmet when he was invited to sport the new product at a go-karting challenge between riders and journalists, along with fellow racers Michael Rutter and Sean Emmett.