20/08/2026
A Scottish motorsport legend and one of British motorcycling’s greatest ‘what-ifs’, Steve Hislop – affectionately known as ‘Hizzy’ or ‘The Flying Haggis’ – tragically passed away in 2003 at the age of just 41. In 1989, the Hawick-born rider became the very first person to lap the infamous isle of man course at an average of 120mph, a feat that had previously been deemed impossible.
The 2002 British Superbike Championship is where this Ducati, frame number VS5801, enters the fray, for it was on this very 998RS that Hislop dominated the season to win the Riders’ title and close one hell of a redemption arc. Racing for the MonsterMob Ducati UK team, which was operated by Paul Bird Motorsport, Hislop won eight races, started from pole position 10 times and recorded 13 fastest laps. Satisfyingly, ‘Hizzy’ also left his old foe John Reynolds, who’d joined the newly formed Rizla Suzuki outfit, firmly in the dust.
Riding this single bike all year, Hislop won races at Silverstone, Knockhill, Brands Hatch, and two apiece at Oulton Park and Cadwell Park, respectively. It was at Donington Park during the 13th and final round of the season that Hislop sealed this particular campaign in motorsport legend forever.
In qualifying, ‘Hizzy’ shattered the Donington Park lap record, recording a 1min31.457sec. That was an astonishing tenth of a second quicker than the pole lap recorded by Valentino Rossi on his full-fat MotoGP Honda in the same year. That Hislop was quicker on a Superbike, essentially a GT3 car to Rossi’s GTE car, was remarkable. In fact, it’s a feat that, in bike circles, is still spoken of today. And it occurred on this very Ducati…
2002 Ducati 998RS British Superbike, currenty available with . – hit the link in our bio for more!
