1998 Superbike World Championship

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1998 Superbike World Championship
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Supersport World Series

The 1998 Superbike World Championship was the eleventh FIM Superbike World Championship season. The season started on 22 March at Phillip Island and finished on 4 October at Sugo after 12 rounds.

Contents

The season saw the introduction of a revised qualifying system: after two timed qualifying sessions, the sixteen fastest riders were admitted to the newly created Superpole, which determined the first four rows of the starting grid; during this session each rider went on the track in reverse qualifying order to take a single flying lap. [1]

Carl Fogarty, who amassed three race victories during the season, won the riders' championship [2] for the third time after 1994 and 1995; Fogarty prevailed over Aaron Slight at the last round, while Troy Corser, who had entered the final event leading the standings, could not race due to injury. [3] Ducati won the manufacturers' championship. [4]

This season also saw the round at Sentul being dropped from the 1998 calendar due to the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Race calendar and results

RoundCircuitDateSuperpoleFastest lapWinning riderWinning teamReport
1R1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Phillip Island 22 March Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Corser Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Fogarty Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Fogarty Ducati Performance Report
R2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Flag of Japan.svg Noriyuki Haga Yamaha World Superbike Team
2R1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Donington 13 April Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Corser [N 1] Flag of Japan.svg Noriyuki Haga Flag of Japan.svg Noriyuki Haga Yamaha World Superbike Team Report
R2 Flag of Japan.svg Noriyuki Haga Flag of Japan.svg Noriyuki Haga Yamaha World Superbike Team
3R1 Flag of Italy.svg Monza 10 May Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Flag of the United States.svg Colin Edwards Castrol Honda Report
R2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Flag of the United States.svg Colin Edwards Castrol Honda
4R1 Flag of Spain.svg Albacete 24 May Flag of Japan.svg Noriyuki Haga Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Ducati ADVF Report
R2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Fogarty Ducati Performance
5R1 Flag of Germany.svg Nürburgring 7 June Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Corser Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Castrol Honda Report
R2 Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Ducati ADVF
6R1 Flag of San Marino (1862-2011).svg Misano 21 June Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Corser Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Castrol Honda Report
R2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Castrol Honda
7R1 Flag of South Africa.svg Kyalami 5 July Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Ducati ADVF Report
R2 Flag of Japan.svg Akira Yanagawa Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Ducati ADVF
8R1 Flag of the United States.svg Laguna Seca 12 July Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Corser Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Corser Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Corser Ducati ADVF Report
R2 Flag of Japan.svg Noriyuki Haga Flag of Japan.svg Noriyuki Haga Yamaha World Superbike Team
9R1 Flag of Europe.svg Brands Hatch 2 August Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Corser Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Flag of the United States.svg Colin Edwards Castrol Honda Report
R2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Whitham Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Corser Ducati ADVF
10R1 Flag of Austria.svg A1-Ring 30 August Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Castrol Honda Report
R2 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Corser Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Castrol Honda
11R1 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Assen 6 September Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Ducati ADVF Report
R2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Fogarty Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Fogarty Ducati Performance
12R1 Flag of Japan.svg Sugo 4 October Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Corser Flag of Japan.svg Akira Ryō Flag of Japan.svg Keiichi Kitagawa Team Suzuki Report
R2 Flag of Japan.svg Noriyuki Haga Flag of Japan.svg Noriyuki Haga Yamaha World Superbike Team
Footnotes
  1. Superpole abandoned due to snow; grid established from the two qualifying sessions. [5]

Championship standings

Riders' standings

1998 final riders' standings [2]
Pos.RiderBike AUS
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
GBR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
GER
Flag of Germany.svg
SMR
Flag of San Marino (1862-2011).svg
RSA
Flag of South Africa.svg
USA
Flag of the United States.svg
EUR
Flag of Europe.svg
AUT
Flag of Austria.svg
NED
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
JPN
Flag of Japan.svg
Pts
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
1 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Carl Fogarty Ducati 13736291131343225Ret42322134351.5
2 Flag of New Zealand.svg Aaron Slight Honda 92442Ret421411888DNS25114276347
3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Corser Ducati 262234237322Ret712716533DNSDNS328.5
4 Flag of Italy.svg Pierfrancesco Chili Ducati 4Ret35531531RetRet117496231Ret12Ret293.5
5 Flag of the United States.svg Colin Edwards Honda 7767115Ret22349411101479541313279.5
6 Flag of Japan.svg Noriyuki Haga Yamaha 311191010457RetRet73Ret112791288Ret1258
7 Flag of Japan.svg Akira Yanagawa Kawasaki 55516Ret61374555652DNS447642210
8 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Whitham Suzuki Ret12888511109106Ret4Ret655356Ret5119173
9 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Peter Goddard Suzuki Ret49107814868RetRet561481013108671010155
10 Flag of the United States.svg Scott Russell Yamaha 1081311RetRet6911Ret8610915Ret3812119Ret512130.5
11 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Neil Hodgson Kawasaki 8Ret12Ret47714Ret1178RetRet96Ret9810109616124.5
12 Flag of Spain.svg Gregorio Lavilla Ducati 1111RetRet10Ret3RetRet6Ret73Ret13RetRetRet117RetRet171583.5
13 Flag of Italy.svg Piergiorgio Bontempi Kawasaki 12Ret1413Ret1112689Ret11121018DNS58
14 Flag of Italy.svg Alessandro Gramigni Ducati 1815181712138Ret10Ret1112111416915Ret131411Ret56
15 Flag of Slovenia.svg Igor Jerman Kawasaki 15Ret21191312Ret121415151013111911DNSDNS15151210201847
16 Flag of Japan.svg Keiichi Kitagawa Suzuki 1536
17 Flag of Japan.svg Akira Ryō Suzuki 2336
18 Flag of Austria.svg Andreas Meklau Ducati 119RetRet99141331
19 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Niall Mackenzie Yamaha Ret661026
20 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Steve Hislop Yamaha 10981126
21 Flag of Italy.svg Lucio Pedercini Ducati 13Ret1920141412141214Ret13201216RetDNSDNS26
22 Flag of the United States.svg Ben Bostrom Honda 4322.5
23 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Mark Willis Suzuki 6917
24 Flag of Japan.svg Wataru Yoshikawa Yamaha 9716
25 Flag of Germany.svg Udo Mark Suzuki Ret12101313
26 Flag of New Zealand.svg Andrew Stroud Kawasaki 171622RetDNSDNS181616Ret14151412RetRet1617RetDNS1513212013
27 Flag of the United States.svg Jamie Hacking Yamaha 10712
28 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Chris Walker Kawasaki 11129
29 Flag of Finland.svg Erkka Korpiaho Kawasaki 151515Ret171614129
30 Flag of Japan.svg Kensuke Haga Yamaha Ret88
31 Flag of Japan.svg Shinichi Ito Honda 8Ret8
32 Flag of the United States.svg Doug Chandler Kawasaki 3DNS8
33 Flag of Italy.svg Mario Innamorati Kawasaki 18Ret131119198
34 Flag of Japan.svg Shinya Takeishi Kawasaki 14117
35 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg James Haydon Suzuki 1514Ret127
36 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Steve Martin Ducati Ret106
37 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sean Emmett Ducati RetRet11Ret5
38 Flag of France.svg Jean-Marc Delétang Yamaha Ret22Ret2219191611RetRet16Ret5
39 Flag of France.svg Frédéric Protat Honda 2119Ret2316165
Ducati 1913DNSDNS1817151523Ret1719RetRetRetDNS
40 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Troy Bayliss Ducati RetRet13154
41 Flag of the United States.svg Ricky Orlando Kawasaki 22133
42 Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Blora Ducati 171713163
43 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Shawn Giles Honda 16133
44 Flag of Japan.svg Yuichi Takeda Honda 15143
45 Flag of Germany.svg Heinz Platacis Kawasaki 16142
46 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg John Reynolds Ducati Ret142
47 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matt Llewellyn Ducati 14Ret2
48 Flag of the United States.svg Aaron Yates Suzuki 12Ret2
49 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Craig Connell Ducati Ret142
50 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Malcolm Campbell Ducati 14Ret2
51 Flag of Spain.svg Rubén Xaus Suzuki 15161
52 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jiří Mrkývka Honda Ret24DNQDNQ20Ret17151818Ret18Ret2021RetDNQDNQRetRet1
53 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Terry Rymer Suzuki 1615Ret161
Pos.RiderBike AUS
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
GBR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
GER
Flag of Germany.svg
SMR
Flag of San Marino.svg
RSA
Flag of South Africa.svg
USA
Flag of the United States.svg
EUR
Flag of Europe.svg
AUT
Flag of Austria.svg
NED
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
JPN
Flag of Japan.svg
Pts
ColourResult
GoldWinner
SilverSecond place
BronzeThird place
GreenPoints classification
BlueNon-points classification
Non-classified finish (NC)
PurpleRetired, not classified (Ret)
RedDid not qualify (DNQ)
Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
BlackDisqualified (DSQ)
WhiteDid not start (DNS)
Withdrew (WD)
Race cancelled (C)
BlankDid not practice (DNP)
Did not arrive (DNA)
Excluded (EX)

Bold – Pole position
Italics – Fastest lap

Due to separate accidents, the first race in Laguna Seca was stopped on the 13th of the 28 scheduled laps and the subsequent restart was aborted; half points were awarded. [6]

Manufacturers' standings

1998 final manufacturers' standings [4]
Pos.Manufacturer AUS
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
GBR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
GER
Flag of Germany.svg
SMR
Flag of San Marino.svg
RSA
Flag of South Africa.svg
USA
Flag of the United States.svg
EUR
Flag of Europe.svg
AUT
Flag of Austria.svg
NED
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
JPN
Flag of Japan.svg
Pts
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
1 Flag of Italy.svg Ducati 132232113122111241221134487.5
2 Flag of Japan.svg Honda 724411421211844314114276416.5
3 Flag of Japan.svg Yamaha 311191064578673101379118851307
4 Flag of Japan.svg Suzuki 64887511868613466553566513252
5 Flag of Japan.svg Kawasaki 55512467645556526169447642251
Pos.Manufacturer AUS
Flag of Australia (converted).svg
GBR
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg
ITA
Flag of Italy.svg
ESP
Flag of Spain.svg
GER
Flag of Germany.svg
SMR
Flag of San Marino.svg
RSA
Flag of South Africa.svg
USA
Flag of the United States.svg
EUR
Flag of Europe.svg
AUT
Flag of Austria.svg
NED
Flag of the Netherlands.svg
JPN
Flag of Japan.svg
Pts

Due to separate accidents, the first race in Laguna Seca was stopped on the 13th of the 28 scheduled laps and the subsequent restart was aborted; half points were awarded. [6]

References

  1. "News – Fogarty and Haga share the glory; Mailbox Corner – That's Superpole". superbike.it. SBK Superbike International. April 1998. Archived from the original on 13 June 1998. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Championship standings". sbk.perugiatiming.com. Perugia Timing. 4 October 1998. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  3. Mark Pierson (5 October 1998). "Motorcycling: Fogarty flies to hat-trick and Doohan reigns again". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-05-01. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 "Manufacturer standings". sbk.perugiatiming.com. Perugia Timing. 4 October 1998. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  5. "News – Haga takes Donington". superbike.it. SBK Superbike International. May 1998. Archived from the original on 13 June 1998. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Strange day". cyclenews.com. Cycle News. 12 July 1998. Archived from the original on 3 September 1999. Retrieved 20 December 2014.