CHAMPION: Sidecar superstar Steve Webster is pictured in action, driving No 1

North Yorkshire's sidecar superstar Steve Webster begins his 19th season of world championship competition tomorrow with the Guiness Book of Records in his sights.

The 40-year-old from Alne, near Easingwold, will be competing in Kyalami, South Africa, in the first race of the 12-round 2000 series.

And if the seven-time world champion can continue the remarkable run of success that has seen him win the championship for the last three years, it will earn him a place in the record books as the most successful sidecar racer of all time.

Webster and his former foe Rolf Biland are both tying on seven titles apiece.

If Webster were to win again, he would also be only the second driver to win four sidecar titles in a row, to match current FIM president Max Duebel's run from 1961 to 1964.

Webster is aware of the kudos to be earned, but is approaching this season with the usual calm of a seasoned battler.

He has re-signed with the German-based Steinhausen Team Olympia Reisen equipe, and will use the same monstrously powerful Suzuki GSXR-1200 engine.

"It's the same bike as last year, but the team have made a few slight modifications," he said. "But to be honest it was pretty near perfect last year, so there hasn't been anything to change really.

"The power delivery has been softened a bit to make it more flexible, but the main difference is, of course, my new passenger Paul Woodhead, who'll replace David James.

Woodhead, 34, of Milton Keynes, comes in having ridden with Scottish ace Stuart Muldoon, who finished sixth in last year's title table.

"We did a three-day practice session last month in Calafat in Spain to get used to each other and try a few new parts out, and we really clicked straight away," said Webster.

As for his former partner, he said: "David had done a very good job for me over the last three years, but there was a bit of a personality clash between him and the rest of the team, and basically they just didn't renew his contract.

"They pay the bills and wages, so it's their decision."

Woodhead, meanwhile, was without a ride after former partner Muldoon was forced to find a Scottish passenger to continue receiving sponsorship from the Scottish Lottery.

Webster will be tackling new tracks this year, including tomorrow's venue, the 2.65-mile high altitude Kyalami circuit, near Johannesburg in South Africa.

Valencia in Spain is another new circuit for him, while he also returns to Imola in Italy, where he hasn't raced since his third Grand Prix way back in September 1983.

"I'm really looking forward to the new season and getting down to business, and it's also going to be great going to a new track for the first time," said Webster.

"It's the first time the sidecars have ever raced down there, so there should be some extra interest from the crowd."

He added: "The main rivals this season will be Klaus Klaffenbock who pushed us so hard last year, and my old mate and demon braker Stevie Abbott.

"Both of them have changed to four strokes this year - Klaffy has gone for a Suzuki the same as ours, and Abbo has gone for a Yamaha EXUP 1000.

"Last year was supposed to be a learning year for me on the four-stroke, so I'm hoping that experience will give me a bit of a head start, but they are both quick learners so I'm expecting the usual battles."

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