Hodgson scores best result of 2002.

Neil Hodgson scored his best result of the season so far with a fine fourth place in a race that could have seen him on the first step of the podium.

HM Plant Ducati riders Neil Hodgson and James Toseland put in another pair of sterling performances to take fourth and eighth placed finishes respectively. Both riders scored enough points to maintain their current world championship standings of fifth (Hodgson) and eighth (Toseland).

Hodgson especially impressed with a ride that was as aggressive as it was controlled. Taking the chequered flag just 0.6s behind former world champion and third placed rider in the race, Colin Edwards, Hodgson was unfortunate not to make it onto the podium himself. The 25-lap race saw Britain's number one Superbike rider hold off the threat of Ben Bostrom while fighting his way past Noriyuki Haga on his way to 13 championship points.

"I can't really complain about fourth place in a race like that," said the 28-year-old Isle of Man-based rider. "The pace was incredibly hot and being able to maintain that pace over race distance has given me a lot more confidence in the HM Plant Ducati. I'm a little disappointed not to have taken at least third - if there had been another couple of laps left in the race I know that I could have passed Edwards. That said, this makes it six races and six good point scoring finishes and what I've learned here will help me perform even better for round four at Sugo. Another positive thing is that I won the battle with Bostrom - that means that he isn't far ahead of me in the points and neither is Xaus for that matter."

James Toseland gave another strong showing to come home in eighth place, once more well clear of ninth placed Chris Walker. Despite narrowly losing out in his battle with the more experienced Izutsu, the 21-year-old from Sheffield expressed satisfaction with the weekend's results: "I enjoyed that race more than the first," said Toseland. "I would have liked to have at least equalled my sixth place from race one, but we changed the tyre pressure in-between races and I'm not sure it was the best move. Even so, to come away from Kyalami with 18 points is a decent result and if I can continue to rack up double figure race points, I'll be happy."