Despite the 30Centigrade heat of Italy'sMisano circuit, a lap record, and a 15-second winning margin showed that Steve Webster and Paul Woodhead are not going to let Klaus Klaffenbock take their coveted number one plate without a valiant fight to the last.

It was Webster's second successive race win of the season. The North Yorkshire ace led the torrid proceedings from the first corner to the chequered flag, as Klaffenbock, aware he can win the title if keeps finishing just one place behind Webster, took a lonely second place.

Said a defiant Webster: "It was quite straightforward for us - I wanted to get away at the start and build up a gap and hopefully draw 'Klaffy' on to get him to wear his tyres out a bit.

"That didn't quite work out as his tyres did last, but we got what we needed by winning.

"The bike was just perfect and we've got to keep doing it every time out now.

"There are four races left and 'Klaffy' only has to not finish in one and it'll be wide open again.

"We're not giving up until the last corner of the last race."

Passenger Paul Woodhead, now fully recovered from his earlier season knee injuries certainly felt the heat.

Of track temperatures that reached a rubber-melting 52C he ventured: "It wasn't the hardest race we've ever had, but it certainly feels like the hottest."

The race victory allowed Webster to claw back another five points on Klaffenbock, but the Austrian still has a 25-point advantage.

There are however 100 points to play for and it's Klaffenbock who will now be on the defensive as he tries to make sure he does just enough to keep a gap over Webster in the points table.

Even if Webster were to win all the remaining races, and Klaffenbock and Parzer were to finish second, the Austrian pair would still eventually take it by five points.

But on current form Webster looks unbeatable on the track. He started yesterday from his fifth consecutive pole position, and has nothing to lose from racing from the front for the rest of the season.

Can Klaffenbock's nerve hold?

If he does fail to finish in just one race it's going to be become open warfare.

The sidecars now have a five-week gap - the next race is the second British venue of the 2001 campaign at the swooping Brands Hatch circuit.

* Webster's 1994 season passenger Adolf Haenni will probably miss the rest of the season after breaking both wrists in a practice crash at the weekend.

Updated: 12:03 Monday, June 25, 2001