Motorcycling: Slight hitch for Kocinski

The American John Kocinski surrendered the overall lead in the World superbike championship to Aaron Slight of New Zealand yesterday when he failed to pick up any points in the fourth round at Monza.

Kocinski, riding a Ducati, crashed in the first race and suffered mechanical failure early in the second to complete a miserable afternoon at the Italian track, allowing Slight to move up with two second-place finishes.

Carl Fogarty, the British world champion, won the first race, while the local favourite, Pierfrancesco Chili, took the chequered flag in the second.

WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP Fourth round (Monza, It) First race: 1 C Fogarty (GB) Honda 32min 30.74sec; 2 A Slight (NZ) Honda 32:31.39; 3 C Edwards (US) Yamaha 32:31.76; 4 P Chili (It) Ducati 32:31.76; 5 T Corser (Aus) Ducati 32:31.77. Second race: 1 Chili 32:38.01; 2 Slight 32:38.02; 3 Fogarty 32:38.12; 4 Corser 32:38.30; 5 Edwards 32:44.51. World championship standings: 1 Slight 137pts; 2 Corser 114; 3 Fogarty 113; 4 J Kocinski (US) Ducati 105; 5 Chili 94.