WEBSTER RETIRES FROM SIDECAR RACING Team Suzuki Press Office – September 7, 2005. Team Castrol Suzuki’s sidecar racing legend Steve Webster M.B.E. has announced his retirement from the sport. His decision calls to an end a magnificent and unparalleled record-breaking career that has seen him rise from a 19-year-old club racer to the most successful sidecar racer in the history of the FIM World Championships. Said Webster: “I’ve had a fantastic career, I’ve enjoyed every minute but it just feels right to stop now as no-one can go on forever. I had a couple of months off due to illness which I’m now over and I found out I didn’t miss it anymore. Everyone has to stop sometime and that time for me, at 45, is now. I don’t feel sad about it. It’s been my decision to go now, I haven’t been forced into it so I’m going with a happy heart and a smile and taking with me so many good memories from friends and rivals. “I’ve had a great team around me over the years and it is that close teamwork that has given us the success. There are many people involved who all do a little bit behind the scenes and all that work adds up to win the Championships the team has won, so hanks to all of you – you know who you are. It’s truly been a great time, and it’s lasted for 25 years. It was something I started doing as a hobby, and I’ve managed to make it a profession – what more could I have wanted?” Unfortunately the team were not able to end on a high in Sunday’s penultimate round of the 2005 championship. Passenger Paul Woodhead had been thrown from the outfit under hard braking into the first right-hander during the Friday timed practice session. He sustained some heavy bruising to his arms and a possible broken bone in his wrist. The few fast laps they were able to complete in subsequent practice sessions put them fourth on the grid but despite treatment, the injury proved too much to bear for a full race distance on a long track that pushes passengers really hard. After two laps of the race, Webbo was forced to pull into the pits for the final time, when Woody could no longer grip safely. He said: “It was just too painful to hold on. The wrist is badly bruised and there may be ligament damage or even a break in one of the bones. “It wasn’t the way we wanted to finish but sometimes things don’t always go the way you want them to” Webster’s career began at Elvington Airfield circuit, near York, back in 1980 and along the way he amassed race wins and championships at every level, culminating in last year’s staggering achievement of an unprecedented triple crown of British, European and World titles. The first World Title came back in 1987 in only Webbo’s fourth season of World Championship events with Tony Hewitt in the chair. Further titles were added in 1988 and 1989. Gavin Simmons took over as passenger to record another title in 1991. A gap of six years followed – including an almost season-long retirement in 1995 – before three back-to-back titles in 1997, 98 and 99 with David James. In 2000, current passenger Paul Woodhead joined Webster, taking the 2000 World crown before adding two more in 2003 and 2004. Webster has also notched up the unique distinction of being the only FIM World Champion to win 10 road racing World Titles in one class.