EASINGWOLD sidecar ace Steve Webster's global domination of sidecar racing continued in Cartegena, Spain, when an easy second place was enough to land him the 2004 UEM European Championship.

Going into the race Webster and passenger Paul Woodhead had led the series by 11 and a half points from Tom Hanks and Phil Biggs. But after a controversial decision to reschedule the earlier cancelled Croatian round at Rijeka, the ten-time World Champion looked an outside bet for the title.

By not being allowed to enter the rescheduled race Webster and also third-ranked Tim Reeves were faced with the prospect of sitting on the pit wall seeing his title lead and hopes evaporate.

With starting positions determined by qualifying times from Rijeka in June, Hanks was given a golden opportunity to seize the initiative with the Webster and Reeves' challenges sidelined.

However. Hanks' chance to reel in the points deficit was thwarted by race-long clutch trouble and he could only manage fourth place, 18 seconds behind Billy Galross. That left him just 1 points in front of Webster.

Hanks knew he had to win Sunday's race and beat Webster to win the Championship, a feat he'd never previously achieved.

Equally, Webster knew he had to beat Hanks in any top ten finish to lift the title.

Pole starter Webster got a flying start, determined to get the maximum score and after the usual opening-lap scuffles, Webster, Reeves and Hanks were soon pulling away.

But Hanks hopes of pulling out a famous victory were dashed after only four laps, when he retired with a blown engine.

Knowing Hanks was out, Webster knew a simple finish would land him the title and after a dozen of the 20 laps, he eased the pace, allowing Reeves to grasp the initiative.

What then seemed a straightforward drive to the flag with Webster content on bringing his machine home with minimum stress, turned to controversy on the last lap.

Race leader Reeves got caught up with backmarkers Jean and Gregory Cluze, ending up being forced off the track, gifting Webster the lead and a seemingly simple unchallenged win. But Webster visibly slowed, and despite losing nearly 12 seconds in the dirt, Reeves caught Webster entering the final turn, and swept past the cruising Castrol machine to take the win.

But the second place was good enough to give Webster and Woodhead the championship win to add to their FIM World Cup title, whilst the 25 points for victory gave Tim and Tristan Reeves second position overall in the championship, just 2 points ahead of the luckless Hanks and Phil Biggs.

Updated: 09:59 Monday, October 11, 2004