From a press release issued by series organizers:

Eastern Airways Sidecar Championship – round five, Brands Hatch

Saturday July 31 2004

WEBSTER TRIUMPHS IN BRANDS CAULDRON

Castrol Suzuki pair Steve Webster and Paul Woodhead took victory in today’s record breaking race of the fifth round Eastern Airways sidecar series at a sweltering Brands Hatch, Kent but had to work hard for victory.

Webster broke the lap record for the Brands Hatch GP circuit on lap seven as he caught and passed brothers Tim and Tristan Reeves, who finished second in the fifteen lap race. Derek Brindley and Neil Miller were third.

“The first four or five laps were certainly interesting,” said nine-time world champion Webster. “We got bullied a bit at the start and ended up in fourth place so I really had to settle down and then pull my finger out to pass Derek and Tim.”

“We’ll have to give it another go tomorrow,” said Tim Reeves. “It was fun out there but I want to go one place better in race two.”

The guest pairing of Jorg Steinhausen and Trevor Hopkinson had a tough return to the Eastern Airways series, getting bumped at the first two corners. “Our silencer was knocked onto the front wheel,” explained Steinhausen, “so we had to pull in to straighten it. At least we have another race tomorrow.”

Greg Lambert and passenger James Sirrell finished fourth with Bryan Peddar and Rod Steadman fifth. Ben Birchall and his brother Tom were the top placed Yamaha outfit in sixth place.

Eastern Airways Sidecar Championship, round five race one result (15 laps – 62.95km): 1 Steve Webster (Suzuki) 22m59.746s, 2 Tim Reeves (Suzuki) +0.305s, 3 Derek Brindley (Suzuki) +11.844, 4 Greg Lambert (Suzuki) +33.761, 5 Bryan Peddar (Suzuki) +43.945, 6 Ben Birchall (Yamaha) +51.006, 7 Bill Philp (Yamaha) +51.562, 8 Stuart Muldoon (Suzuki) +59.547, 9 Stuart Woodard (Yamaha) +1:03.554, 10 Andy Laidlow (Suzuki) +1:18.110.

Championship points: 1 Webster 203, 2 Reeves 154, 3 Brindley 123, 4 Lambert 107, 5= Richard Gatt (Suzuki), Philp 84, 7 Peddar 82, 8 Muldoon 74, 9 Birchall 51, 10= Andy Peach (Suzuki), Woodard 47.