# 2003 Superbike World Championship

The 2003 Superbike World Championship was the sixteenth FIM Superbike World Championship season. The season started on 2 March at Valencia and finished on 19 October at Magny-Cours after 12 rounds.
Rule changes for 2003 allowed 1000cc machines (either twins, triples or four-cylinder) to race. The rule changes in MotoGP which allowed 4-stroke engines starting from 2002 meant that the Japanese manufacturers had focused their resources there; as a result the Superbike World Championship was left with limited factory involvement, with Ducati, Suzuki and the new-for-2003 Carl Fogarty's Foggy Petronas as the only factory teams. As a result of most of the field being formed of Ducati motorcycles, the championship was given the derogatory label of the "Ducati Cup" in some quarters.
The factory Ducati Team entered the only two Ducati 999s in the field, taking 20 wins from 24 races in a season where all races were won by Ducati. Neil Hodgson won the riders' championship and Ducati won the manufacturers' championship.

## Race calendar and results

| Round | Round | Circuit | Date | Superpole | Fastest lap | Winning rider | Winning team | Report |
| 1 | R1 | Valencia | 2 March | Neil Hodgson | Neil Hodgson | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 1 | R2 | Valencia | 2 March | Neil Hodgson | Neil Hodgson | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 2 | R1 | Phillip Island | 30 March | Neil Hodgson | Neil Hodgson | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 2 | R2 | Phillip Island | 30 March | Neil Hodgson | Rubén Xaus | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 3 | R1 | Sugo | 27 April | Régis Laconi | Neil Hodgson | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 3 | R2 | Sugo | 27 April | Régis Laconi | Pierfrancesco Chili | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 4 | R1 | Monza | 18 May | Neil Hodgson | Neil Hodgson | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 4 | R2 | Monza | 18 May | Neil Hodgson | Régis Laconi | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 5 | R1 | Oschersleben | 1 June | Neil Hodgson | Pierfrancesco Chili | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 5 | R2 | Oschersleben | 1 June | Neil Hodgson | Neil Hodgson | James Toseland | HM Plant Ducati | Report |
| 6 | R1 | Silverstone | 15 June | Neil Hodgson | Gregorio Lavilla | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 6 | R2 | Silverstone | 15 June | Neil Hodgson | Gregorio Lavilla | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 7 | R1 | Misano | 22 June | Neil Hodgson | Rubén Xaus | Rubén Xaus | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 7 | R2 | Misano | 22 June | Neil Hodgson | Rubén Xaus | Rubén Xaus | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 8 | R1 | Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca | 13 July | Mat Mladin | Régis Laconi | Pierfrancesco Chili | Team PSG-1 | Report |
| 8 | R2 | Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca | 13 July | Mat Mladin | Rubén Xaus | Rubén Xaus | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 9 | R1 | Brands Hatch | 27 July | John Reynolds | Shane Byrne | Shane Byrne | Monstermob Ducati | Report |
| 9 | R2 | Brands Hatch | 27 July | John Reynolds | John Reynolds | Shane Byrne | Monstermob Ducati | Report |
| 10 | R1 | Assen | 7 September | Pierfrancesco Chili | Gregorio Lavilla | Rubén Xaus | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 10 | R2 | Assen | 7 September | Pierfrancesco Chili | Neil Hodgson | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 11 | R1 | Imola | 28 September | Rubén Xaus | Neil Hodgson | Rubén Xaus | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 11 | R2 | Imola | 28 September | Rubén Xaus | Rubén Xaus | Rubén Xaus | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 12 | R1 | Magny-Cours | 19 October | James Toseland | Neil Hodgson | Neil Hodgson | Fila Ducati | Report |
| 12 | R2 | Magny-Cours | 19 October | James Toseland | Neil Hodgson | Rubén Xaus | Fila Ducati | Report |

## Championship standings
### Riders' standings

2003 final riders' standings :
| Pos. | Rider | Bike | ESP | ESP | AUS | AUS | JPN | JPN | ITA | ITA | GER | GER | GBR | GBR | SMR | SMR | USA | USA | GBR | GBR | NED | NED | ITA | ITA | FRA | FRA | Pts |
| Pos. | Rider | Bike | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | Pts |
| 1 | Neil Hodgson | Ducati | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | Ret | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | Ret | 489 |
| 2 | Rubén Xaus | Ducati | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | Ret | Ret | 5 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | Ret | 1 | Ret | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 386 |
| 3 | James Toseland | Ducati | 4 | 3 | DSQ | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | Ret | 3 | Ret | 6 | 3 | 4 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 5 | 2 | 271 |
| 4 | Régis Laconi | Ducati | 5 | Ret | 6 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 4 | Ret | 4 | 4 | 8 | Ret | 4 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 267 |
| 5 | Gregorio Lavilla | Suzuki | 7 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 2 | 4 | 5 | Ret | 5 | 7 | 6 | Ret | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 256 |
| 6 | Chris Walker | Ducati | 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 | Ret | Ret | 6 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 | Ret | 5 | 8 | Ret | 5 | 3 | 3 | 234 |
| 7 | Pierfrancesco Chili | Ducati | Ret | Ret | Ret | 3 | Ret | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 11 | 7 | 7 | Ret | 3 | 1 | Ret | 9 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 5 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 197 |
| 8 | Steve Martin | Ducati | 6 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 15 | Ret | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | Ret | Ret | 6 | 9 | Ret | Ret | 14 | Ret | 9 | 11 | 6 | Ret | 7 | 5 | 139 |
| 9 | Lucio Pedercini | Ducati | 8 | 9 | 10 | 14 | 7 | Ret | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 6 | Ret | 10 | Ret | 16 | 12 | 14 | Ret | 6 | Ret | 11 | 112 |
| 10 | Marco Borciani | Ducati | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 10 | 9 | Ret | 14 | Ret | 13 | 10 | 11 | Ret | 14 | 111 |
| 11 | Mauro Sanchini | Kawasaki | Ret | 13 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 108 |
| 12 | Troy Corser | Petronas | Ret | 7 | 5 | 8 | Ret | 12 | 13 | Ret | 12 | 14 | 16 | Ret | 7 | 10 | 8 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 6 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | Ret | 107 |
| 13 | Juan Borja | Ducati | 14 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 10 | 9 | DNS | DNS | Ret | 7 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 12 | 11 | 7 | 12 | Ret | Ret | 16 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 87 |
| 14 | Ivan Clementi | Kawasaki | 11 | 14 | 11 | 11 | Ret | 8 | Ret | Ret | Ret | 13 | 14 | 16 | 10 | 13 | Ret | Ret | 13 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 9 | Ret | Ret | 9 | 76 |
| 15 | Giovanni Bussei | Yamaha | Ret | 11 | 14 | Ret | 12 | 11 | Ret | 13 | 10 | Ret | 12 | 12 | 16 | 16 | | | | | | | | | | | 52 |
| 15 | Giovanni Bussei | Ducati | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | 6 | | | | | | | | | 52 |
| 16 | Shane Byrne | Ducati | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | 50 |
| 17 | John Reynolds | Suzuki | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | 10 | | | | | Ret | 2 | Ret | 10 | | | | | 42 |
| 18 | Vittorio Iannuzzo | Suzuki | | | | | | | 12 | 9 | 8 | 8 | Ret | 15 | Ret | 7 | | | | | DNS | DNS | | | | | 37 |
| 19 | Alessandro Gramigni | Yamaha | Ret | DNS | | | | | 11 | 11 | | | | | 12 | 15 | | | 16 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 12 | Ret | 12 | 37 |
| 20 | Yukio Kagayama | Suzuki | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | 5 | | | | | 10 | 9 | | | | | | | 35 |
| 21 | Leon Haslam | Ducati | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | 10 | 7 | 6 | | | Ret | 6 | 35 |
| 22 | David García | Ducati | 10 | 12 | 8 | Ret | DNS | DNS | | | | | DNS | DNS | DNS | DNS | Ret | Ret | | | DNS | DNS | 12 | 10 | Ret | Ret | 28 |
| 23 | Michael Rutter | Ducati | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 9 | | | | | 8 | Ret | | | | | | | 23 |
| 24 | Hitoyasu Izutsu | Honda | | | | | 6 | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20 |
| 25 | Mat Mladin | Suzuki | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | DNS | | | | | | | | | 13 |
| 26 | James Haydon | Petronas | 12 | Ret | 15 | 16 | 9 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | DNS | | | | | Ret | Ret | 17 | Ret | DNS | DNS | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 12 |
| 27 | Sergio Fuertes | Suzuki | 15 | Ret | | | | | 16 | Ret | | | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 | | | Ret | 17 | Ret | Ret | 14 | 13 | 11 | Ret | 12 |
| 28 | Sean Emmett | Ducati | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | Ret | | | | | | | 11 |
| 29 | Nello Russo | Ducati | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 | | | | | 13 | Ret | 15 | 18 | Ret | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | 11 |
| 30 | Aaron Yates | Suzuki | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | Ret | | | | | | | | | 10 |
| 31 | Dean Ellison | Ducati | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 11 | 12 | | | | | | | 9 |
| 32 | Sébastien Gimbert | Suzuki | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | 8 | 8 |
| 33 | Atsushi Watanabe | Suzuki | | | | | 8 | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| 34 | Serafino Foti | Ducati | Ret | Ret | | | | | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | Ret | Ret | 14 | Ret | | | | | | | | | | | 8 |
| 35 | Walter Tortoroglio | Honda | Ret | 16 | Ret | 17 | Ret | 15 | Ret | 15 | Ret | 18 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 12 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | DNS | 18 | 16 | | | 6 |
| 36 | Bertrand Stey | Honda | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | 13 | 6 |
| 37 | Horst Saiger | Yamaha | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Ret | 17 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 6 |
| 38 | Christian Zaiser | Aprilia | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | DNS | | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 38 | Christian Zaiser | Suzuki | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 12 | Ret | 4 |
| 39 | Kenichiro Nakamura | Honda | | | | | 14 | 14 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 |
| 40 | Luca Pedersoli | Ducati | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 19 | Ret | | | 3 |
| 41 | Paolo Blora | Ducati | | | | | | | | | | | | | 13 | 17 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| 42 | Frédéric Protat | Yamaha | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 15 | 3 |
| 43 | Gianmaria Liverani | Yamaha | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 14 | 19 | 20 | Ret | | | 2 |
| 44 | Luca Pini | Suzuki | | | | | | | | | | | | | 17 | 19 | | | | | | | 15 | 15 | | | 2 |
| 45 | Jiří Mrkývka | Ducati | | | | | | | DNQ | DNQ | 15 | 17 | | | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 15 | Ret | Ret | Ret | DNQ | DNQ | 2 |
| Pos. | Rider | Bike | ESP | ESP | AUS | AUS | JPN | JPN | ITA | ITA | GER | GER | GBR | GBR | SMR | SMR | USA | USA | GBR | GBR | NED | NED | ITA | ITA | FRA | FRA | Pts |
| Colour | Result |
| Gold | Winner |
| Silver | Second place |
| Bronze | Third place |
| Green | Points finish |
| Blue | Non-points finish |
| Blue | Non-classified finish (NC) |
| Purple | Retired (Ret) |
| Red | Did not qualify (DNQ) |
| Red | Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ) |
| Black | Disqualified (DSQ) |
| White | Did not start (DNS) |
| White | Withdrew (WD) |
| White | Race cancelled (C) |
| Blank | Did not practice (DNP) |
| Blank | Did not arrive (DNA) |
| Blank | Excluded (EX) |

### Manufacturers' standings

2003 final manufacturers' standings :
| Pos. | Manufacturer | ESP | ESP | AUS | AUS | JPN | JPN | ITA | ITA | GER | GER | GBR | GBR | SMR | SMR | USA | USA | GBR | GBR | NED | NED | ITA | ITA | FRA | FRA | Pts |
| Pos. | Manufacturer | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | Pts |
| 1 | Ducati | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 600 |
| 2 | Suzuki | 7 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 2 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 306 |
| 3 | Kawasaki | 11 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 130 |
| 4 | Petronas | 12 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 13 | Ret | 12 | 14 | 16 | Ret | 7 | 10 | 8 | Ret | 17 | Ret | 6 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 8 | Ret | 118 |
| 5 | Yamaha | 16 | 11 | 14 | Ret | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 19 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 15 | | | 16 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 69 |
| 6 | Honda | Ret | 16 | 19 | 20 | 6 | 6 | Ret | 15 | Ret | 18 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | 12 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret | DNS | 18 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 31 |
| | Aprilia | | | | | | | | | | | | | Ret | DNS | | | | | | | | | | | 0 |
| Pos. | Manufacturer | ESP | ESP | AUS | AUS | JPN | JPN | ITA | ITA | GER | GER | GBR | GBR | SMR | SMR | USA | USA | GBR | GBR | NED | NED | ITA | ITA | FRA | FRA | Pts |

## Entry list

2003 Entry List :
| No | Rider | Team | Motorcycle | Tyre |
| 4 | Troy Corser | Foggy PETRONAS Racing | Petronas FP1 | M |
| 5 | Ivan Clementi | Kawasaki Bertocchi | Kawasaki ZX-7RR | D |
| 6 | Mauro Sanchini | Kawasaki Bertocchi | Kawasaki ZX-7RR | D |
| 7 | Pierfrancesco Chili | Team PSG-1 | Ducati 998RS | D |
| 8 | James Haydon | Foggy PETRONAS Racing | Petronas FP1 | M |
| 9 | Chris Walker | HM Plant Ducati | Ducati 998F02 | D |
| 10 | Gregorio Lavilla | Alstare Suzuki | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | D |
| 11 | Rubén Xaus | Ducati Fila | Ducati 999F03 | M |
| 16 | Sergio Fuertes | MIR Racing | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | D |
| 19 | Lucio Pedercini | Team Pedercini | Ducati 998RS | D |
| 20 | Marco Borciani | D.F.X. Racing Team | Ducati 998RS | P |
| 23 | Jiri Mrkyvka | JM SBK Team | Ducati 998RS | D |
| 26 | Luca Pedersoli | Team Pedercini | Ducati 998RS | D |
| 27 | Mark Heckles | Team Rumi | Honda VTR1000SP2 | M |
| 28 | Serafino Foti | Team Pedercini | Ducati 998RS | D |
| 31 | Vittorio Iannuzzo | Alstare Suzuki | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | D |
| 33 | Juan Borja | D.F.X. Racing Team | Ducati 998RS | P |
| 35 | Nello Russo | Team Pedercini | Ducati 998RS | D |
| 38 | Giancarlo De Matteis | Caracchi NCR Nortel Net. | Ducati 998RS | D |
| 48 | David García | Caracchi NCR Nortel Net. | Ducati 998RS | D |
| 51 | Davide Messori | UnionBike GiMotorsport | Yamaha YZF-R1 | D |
| 52 | James Toseland | HM Plant Ducati | Ducati 998F02 | D |
| 55 | Régis Laconi | Caracchi NCR Nortel Net. | Ducati 998RS | D |
| 68 | Bertrand Stey | White Endurance | Honda VTR1000SP2 | D |
| 91 | Walter Tortoroglio | White Endurance | Honda VTR1000SP2 | D |
| 92 | Frédéric Protat | UnionBike GiMotorsport | Yamaha YZF-R1 | D |
| 98 | Gianmaria Liverani | UnionBike GiMotorsport | Yamaha YZF-R1 | D |
| 99 | Steve Martin | D.F.X. Racing Team | Ducati 998RS | P |
| 100 | Neil Hodgson | Ducati Fila | Ducati 999F03 | M |
| 15 | Giovanni Bussei | Ducati Austin | Ducati 998RS | |
| 22 | Horst Saiger | Remus Racing Austria | Yamaha YZF-R1 | |
| 29 | Giuseppe Zannini | Team Pro.Con. | Ducati 998RS | |
| 32 | Eric Bostrom | Kawasaki Road Racing | Kawasaki ZX-7RR | |
| 36 | Sundby Dag Steinar | Komatsu Sundby Racing | Yamaha YZF-R1 | |
| 39 | Alessandro Gramigni | Nuvolari 391 | Yamaha YZF-R1 | |
| 40 | Nick Medd | Renegade Ducati | Ducati 998RS | |
| 41 | Robert Menzen | Racing Team R. Menzen | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 42 | Paul Mooijman | Kruisinga Motoren Racing | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 44 | Stefan Nebel | Elf Yoshimura Shafer Motorsp. | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 50 | Marco Masetti | Caracchi NCR Nortel Net. | Ducati 996RS | |
| 57 | Simone Conti | Scuderia HF | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 60 | Michael Rutter | Renegade Ducati | Ducati 998F02 | |
| 61 | John Reynolds | Rizla Suzuki | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 62 | Sean Emmett | ETI Racing | Ducati 998RS | |
| 64 | Yukio Kagayama | Rizla Suzuki | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 66 | Mat Mladin | Suzuki Yoshimura | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 67 | Shane Byrne | Monstermob Ducati | Ducati 998F02 | D |
| 69 | Karl Truchsess | Remus Racing Austria | Yamaha YZF-R1 | |
| 70 | Christian Zaiser | Racing Team Zaiser | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 71 | Martin Benito Isaac | Acumoto Racing Team | Yamaha YZF-R1 | |
| 73 | Steven Cutting | Motorcycle Weaponry | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 74 | Kenichiro Nakamura | Blue Helmet MSC | Honda VTR1000SP2 | |
| 75 | Alistair Maxwell | Michelin Honda | Honda CBR954RR | M |
| 76 | Atsushi Watanabe | Team Suzuki | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 77 | Hitoyasu Izutsu | Team HRC | Honda VTR1000SPW | |
| 78 | Jay Normoyle | Warren & Brown Lightpaths | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 79 | Noriyasu Numata | Team Foundatlon | Ducati 996RS | |
| 82 | Lorenzo Mauri | Team Pedercini | Ducati 998RS | |
| 89 | Dean Ellison | Firepower Ducati | Ducati 996 | |
| 90 | Leon Haslam | Renegade Ducati | Ducati 998RS | |
| 93 | Sébastien Gimbert | SERT | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 96 | Luca Pini | Boselli Racing | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
| 113 | Paolo Blora | Lucido Corse | Ducati 996RS | |
| 120 | Aaron Yates | Suzuki Yoshimura | Suzuki GSX-R1000 | |
* Key
* Wildcard Rider
* D Dunlop
* M Michelin
* P Pirelli