NOTHING less than victory will do for North Yorkshire sidecar stars Steve Webster and Paul Woodhead at Imola in Italy tomorrow.

Although fourth in the 2002 World Championship, Webster's hopes of a ninth title are still very much alive as the season reaches a thrilling climax..

Any one of the top five could win the crown. Steve Abbott, with three wins, leads on 140 points, Rolf Steinhausen is on 135, Tom Hanks 132, Webster 125 and reigning champion Klaus Klaffenbock 121.

With 25 points for a win, any of that leading bunch could take the honours.

Abbott must start as favourite, but goes to the battle with the greatest pressure on his shoulders. After racing for over 20 years, the Derbyshire rider has never taken the top prize.

It'll be a popular triumph in the paddock if he does make it, but he must have a second or third placing if Webster wins the race - and he also really needs to finish in front of Steinhausen.

For Easingwold ace Webster to win the title he needs to win tomorrow's race and have Abbott finish sixth or lower.

There are so many complicated mathematical options that tactical riding will not really be an option for most of that group, as it will be impossible for the riders to do the maths during the race.

That means all five will go to the gird knowing they'll have to get the best placing they can, and race flat out for a win - a true finale to the season.

Webster - on pole position in every race this season - has been in a worse position before. In 1988 he went to the final round at Brno with an 18-point deficit with title leader Rolf Biland just needing a finish to win, but the Swiss star broke down leaving Webster to grab the honours.

Of the nine races held this season, on five occasions one of the top group has failed to make it to the flag, with only Tom Hanks having a 100 per cent finish record.

Webster said: "There's never been a finish like this before ever. What a situation when's there's endless permutations for the top five.

"We know we are really relying on others not to finish but it's going to be a hell of a race. Tactically we should try to get an early lead but then try to hold the pace up and try to get everyone to bunch up a bit.

"If everyone is in a tight group the chances of bumping and pushing are going to increase and who knows what might happen.

"Getting to the front and clearing off will win the race, but this time if we are going to have any effect we'll need to try to bunch them up and then go for it."

Updated: 10:53 Friday, September 27, 2002