Pride comes before a fall; the final World Superbike season of the 20th century was one of unprecedented professionalism and popularity - 120,000 spectators at Brands Hatch would attest to that - but with costs rising to the point of deterring many privateers, the introduction of the cheaper Superstock series, and the announcement that 500cc Grand Prix would be adopting four-stroke regulations by 2002, the decline was beginning for the first era of superbikes. On track though: photo finishes at Phillip Island and Monza, 5 teams and 7 riders capable of winning races, and although Carl Fogarty won his 4th title comfortably the racing was as good as ever. The Superbike World Championship ended the decade on a high.