Team Castrol Suzuki sidecar duo Steve Webster and Paul Woodhead head the entry list in the second round of the British Sidecar championship at Mondello Park in Dublin this weekend.
After winning in Italy last Sunday, in the first round of the European Championship, Easingwold-based Webster and passenger Woodhead will be looking to continue their fine form.
It's a big weekend for the team, and the British series itself. The first race was scheduled for Knockhill in Scotland at the beginning of May, but the sidecar race had to be cancelled due to a serious crash in a solo race earlier in the day.
This weekend's race is then effectively now the season opener for the 2004 British Championship, and it's also the first round to be run in conjunction with the British Superbike (BSB) Championship.
Originally the intention was to run the sidecar championship in parallel to the BSB series, but at the last minute plans were changed to spread the 2004 British Championship over a mixed bag of National, British and World Superbike meetings.
It's going to be Webster's first ever visit to the Emerald Isle's very tight, twisty 2.268 mile Mondello Park circuit, and he has no idea what to expect.
"I've never seen it before - my only previous visit to Dublin was for a weekend trip, and was mainly about sampling Guinness," quipped Webster.
"But I understand there are a lot of flowing corners, and not much in the way of long straights, so the first part of the opening session will be all about finding the way round. It's always good to go to a new circuit, and we only usually need a few laps to get on the pace."
Webster did race at Kirkistown in Northern Ireland with previous partner Gavin Simmons in the early 1990s, and was impressed by the reception.
He recalled: "They are a very, very enthusiastic and friendly crowd, who really enjoy their racing, and relish having all the top teams going over for this meeting, which is the biggest of the year in Ireland."
The sidecars actually have two rounds of the 2004 series to race for this weekend, with 15-lappers tomorrow and on Sunday both counting towards the British title.
"It's the first event of the year with the BSB series, the first time we are on show with the new championship package in front of the big solo teams, and we have to get it right," said Webster.
"We need to put on a good show, and show the right image. A lot of the other sidecar lads are pretty excited by the potential of this championship, and we want to show what hopefully should be a big crowd just what top-class sidecar racing is all about - and of course we'll be all out to get a couple of wins as well."
Machinery tweaks on the Castrol Suzuki LCR outfit are a try-out for some fuel system internals, plus new design front tyre from Yokohama.
"I was really happy with the bike in Italy last weekend, so there are just a couple of minor things to try out. We always have to try to find that bit extra, it's a never-ending search," said the Easingwold ace.
"There is always going to be something that can be developed and improved, and we need every advantage we can get. It's going to be long season going for two championships."
Updated: 10:59 Friday, May 21, 2004
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