By Glenn LeSanto
Reigning World Sidecar Champion Steve ‘Webbo’ Webster’s troubled season continued at Donington when he was forced to retire for the second race running. This time it wasn’t mechanical problems that sidelined the Team Liveonscreen.com Racing outfit-–it was due to passenger Paul Woodhead’s knee problem. Woodhead, who has had two operations on the knee in the last few weeks, was forced to throw in the towel when he lost mobility in the knee joint while the pair were leading the race. If the passenger can’t move freely about the sidecar the rider can’t push hard, so Webster had no choice but to pull in. Woodhead was rushed to the medical center for examination as soon as the pair returned to the pitlane.

Webster’s arch rival Klaus Klaffenbock inherited the lead and kept it to record his third win in three races. Klaffenbock, who finished second in the title chase behind Webster last year, now has a commanding lead in the series. Steve Abbott grabbed second place from Steinhausen in an audacious last corner move that saw the two outfits touch going into Goddards. As both outfits looked ready to spin out of control it was Abbott who kept things together to get the drive out of the bend and secure second.



Sidecar Results
Donington, England

1. Klaffenbock/Parzer, 38:21.628

2. Abbott/Biggs, 38:44.378

3. Steinhausen/Hopkinson, 38:45.877

4. Hanks/Biggs, 39:09.804

5. Van Gils/Van Gils, 39:26.846

6. Guy/Peach, 39:31.642

7. Hauzenberger/Hanni, 39:52.287



Sidecar World Championship Points Standings:

1. Klaffenbock, 75

2. Abbott, 53

3. Steinhausen, 32

4. Hauzenberher, 31

5. Van Gils, 27

6. Hanks, 24

7. Liechti, 24

8. Webster, 20