By Glenn LeSanto
Defending Sidecar World Champion Steve Webster and his passenger Paul Woodhead got their first win of the season in appalling conditions at
Lausitzring today. While others literally lost their way in the poor visibility caused by a combination of spray, driving rain and misting
visors, the pair cruised to a clear win over rivals, and title leaders, Klaffenbock and Parzer. Webster’s teammate Ian Guy went straight on at one of the new circuit’s corners, using the escape lane when he misjudged the corner due to visibility problems. He was followed by several more outfits who were simply following Guy’s tail lights as they could see little else in the conditions.

After the race several teams protested after it was found that Klaffenbock’s outfit was too low to the ground.

Klaffenbock and his passenger Parzer plus Hauzenberger and his passenger Hanni were subsequently excluded from the results of the Superside race for failing to conform to technical regulations regarding the ground clearance of the sidecar outfit. This means they both lose the points they gained today. Klaffenbock had finished finished second in the race, over 17 seconds behind Webster. Muldoon and Crone had their first podium of the season finishing third. Steve Abbott still lies second in the title race despite retiring from the race.

Race result
Position, Rider – passenger, nationality (rider), race time,
1. Webster – Woodhead, GBR, 48:20.020
2. DQ Klaffenbock – Parzer, AUT, 48:37.098
3. Muldoon – Crone, GBR, 50:32.098
4. Roscher – Neubert, GER, 1 lap down
5. DQ Hauzenberger – Hanni, AUT, 1 lap down

Championship Points
Rider, points
1. Klaffenbock, 95
2. Abbott, 53
3. Webster, 45
4. Hauzenberger, 42