Steve Webster M.B.E. - The British Master of Sidecar Racing

Introduction

Steve Webster is undoubtedly one of the greatest all-time sidecar racers but unfortunately his efforts go un-noticed to many as the sport is not publicised as much as it should be. However, you don't get an M.B.E. for nothing. Well done Steve for your achievements in the industry and keep up the good work.

Team Castrol Suzuki’s sidecar racing legend Steve Webster M.B.E. has announced his immediate retirement from the sport. Amid emotional scenes at the Circuit van Drenthe at Assen, Holland on Sunday, the ten time World Champion announced he was going to hang up his leathers and helmet for good.

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.

Steve 'Webbo' Webster MBE won 62 World Championship races on the way to collecting 10 World Titles in a career spanning 25 years from novice rider to the undisputed king of 3-wheels.

Race Career - Facts and Figures

Sidecar World Championship/F.I.M World Cup Wins;

• 1987 - STEVE WEBSTER/Tony Hewitt (GB)
• 1988 - STEVE WEBSTER/Tony Hewitt GB)
• 1989 - STEVE WEBSTER/Tony Hewitt (GB)
• 1991 - STEVE WEBSTER/Gavin Simmons (GB)
• 1997 - STEVE WEBSTER/David James (GB)
• 1998 - STEVE WEBSTER/David James (GB)
• 1999 - STEVE WEBSTER/David James (GB)
• 2000 - STEVE WEBSTER/Paul Woodhead (GB)
• 2003 - STEVE WEBSTER/Paul Woodhead (GB)
• 2004 - STEVE WEBSTER/Paul Woodhead (GB)
• 2005 - Retires from motorsport

  Sidecar World Champion/F.I.M.World Cup Race Winners Merit Table (All-time top ten);

• 1. R. Biland (CH) - 82 Wins - (1975-1997)
• 2. S. WEBSTER (GB) - 57 Wins - (1986-2003)
• 3. K. Enders (D) - 27 Wins - (1967-1974)
• 4. E. Streuer (NL) - 22 Wins - (1982-1992)
• 5. A. Michel (F) - 18 Wins - (1976-1991)
• 6. E. Oliver (GB) - 17 Wins - (1949-1953)
• 7. F. Scheidegger (CH) - 16 Wins - (1959-1966)
• 7. K. Klaffenbock (A) - 16 Wins - (1997- 2003)
• 9. M. Deubel (D) - 12 Wins - (1961-1965)
• 10. H. Fath (D) - 11 Wins - (1960-1969)

  Sidecar World Championship/F.I.M. World Cup Title Wins - 1949-2000 (TOP12);

• 1 S.WEBSTER (GB) - 9 Wins - 1987/88/89/91/97*/98*/99*, 2000/03
• 2 R.Biland (CH) - 7 Wins - 1978/79/81/83/92/93/94
• 3 K.Enders (D) - 6 Wins - 1967/69/70/72/73/74
• 4= M.Deubel (D) - 4 Wins - 1961/62/63/64
• 4= E.Oliver (GB) - 4 Wins - 1949/50/51/53
• 5 E.Streuer (NL) - 3 Wins - 1984/85/86
• 6 H.Fath (D) - 2 Wins - 1960/68
• 6= W.Noll (D) - 2 Wins - 1954/56
• 6= F.Scheidegger (CH) - 2 Wins - 1965/66
• 6= W.Schneider (D) - 2 Wins - 1958/59
• 6= R.Steinhausen (D) - 2 Wins - 1975/76
• 6= Darren Dixon (GB) - 2 Wins - 1995/96

  Steve Webster G.P./FIM World Cup Results

  Wins

• 1986 - BEL
• 1987 - ESP(Jer), GER(Hoc), GB(Don)
• 1988 - GB(Don), SWE, CZ
• 1989 - USA, GER(Hoc), NL, GB(Don)
• 1990 - ESP(Jer), GER(Nur), FRA(Lem)
• 1991 - USA, ESP(Jer), ITA(Mis), A, EUR(Jar)
• 1992 - ESP(Jer), GER(Hoc)
• 1993 - GER(Hoc), SWE
• 1997 - HUN, NL, GER(Hoc), SWE, CZ, CRO
• 1998 - A(Salz), NL, GB(Don), Ger(Osch)
• 1999 - AUS, ESP(Alb), ITA(Mon), A(Zel), NL, GER(Hoc)
• 2000 - AUS, GB(Don), ITA(Mon), ITA(Mis)
• 2001 - GER(Lz), ITA(Mis), GB(BH), ITA(Im)
• 2002 - SA(Kya), GB(BH), Ger(Osch), NL
• 2003 - Esp(Val), Ger(Osch), GB (Sil), GB(BH), NL, NL(2)

  2nd

• 1985 - GER(Nur)
• 1986 - A, NL, GB (Sil)
• 1987 - NL, SWE
• 1988 - GER(Nur), BEL, FRA(Ric)
• 1989 - BEL, FRA(Lem), CZ
• 1990 - USA, ITA(Mis), A, CZ
• 1991 - FRA(Ric), GB(Don), RSM(Mug)
• 1992 - NL, HUN
• 1993 - NL, FIM(Jar)
• 1994 - GER(Hoc)
• 1996 - NL, CZ
• 1999 - GER(Nur), RSM(Mis)
• 2000 - SA(Kya), GER(Hoc), ESP(Val), GB(BH), GER(Osc), GB(BH)
• 2001 - ESP(Val)
• 2002 - ITA (Mon) ITA(Im)

  3rd

• 1984 - GER(Nur)
• 1985 - A, SWE
• 1986 - FRA(Ric), GER(Hoc)
• 1987 - FRA(Lem), CZ
• 1988 - POR(Jer), A, NL
• 1989 - SWE, CZ
• 1990 - YUG
• 1991 - CZ, VIT(Lem)
• 1992 - GB(Don)
• 1993 - CZ
• 1994 - GB(Don)[1st race], GB(Don)[2nd race], CZ, NL
• 1996 - ITA(Mug), GER(Hoc), GB(Don)
• 1998 - CRO, ITA (Mis)
• 2003 - ITA (Mis)

  Key Facts;

  From 172 Grand Prix and World Championship races entered, but 169 race results to date, as 1985 GB (Silv), 1993 Austria (Zelt) and 2001 Australia were cancelled on race day after qualifying due to adverse weather conditions;

• Wins - 57
• Second Place - 37
• Third Place - 27
• Rostrum Places - 121
• 143 Points Scoring Rides/Race finishes
• 121 rostrum places from 143 finishes means 84.6% of Webster’s race finishes have been top three places.
• 40 Pole Position and Wins at same race
• 78 Pole Positions (counts 2003 NL two races as one pole, as only one qualifying session for two races)
• 1st GP - 1983, GB - finished 5th
• 1st Rostrum - 1984, Germany-finished 3rd (5th ever GP)
• 1st Pole Position - 1985, Holland
• 1st Win - 1986, Belgium
• 1st World Title - 1987

  Passengers:

• 1983 - 1989 - Tony Hewitt - 43 races, 10 wins
• 1989 - 1993 - Gavin Simmons - 42 races, 13 wins
• 1994 - Adolf Haenni - 8 races
• 1995 - 1999 - David James - 29 races, 16 wins
• 2000 - Paul Woodhead - 40 races, 18 wins

  World Championship/F.I.M. World Cup* Results:

• 1983 - 16th
• 1984 - 8th
• 1985 - 4th (didn't complete full season due to Assen crash)
• 1986 - 3rd
• 1987 - 1st
• 1988 - 1st
• 1989 - 1st
• 1990 - 3rd
• 1991 - 1st
• 1992 - 2nd
• 1993 - 2nd
• 1994 - 2nd
• 1995 - 19th (only entered one race - last of season, and finished 5th)
• 1996 - 3rd
• 1997 - 1st
• 1998 - 1st
• 1999 - 1st
• 2000 - 1st
• 2001 - 2nd
• 2002 - 4th
• 2003 - 1st

  Steve has won nine World Titles, been runner-up four times, third three times and 4th twice.

  Other titles:

• British Clubman's Champion - 1982
• British Champions - 1985-86-87-88
• British Supercup Champions - 1989, 1992.