EASINGWOLD sidecar star Steve Webster is hell-bent on conquering the world this season.

"I want the number one back on the front of my bike again," said the eight-time world champion.

The 43-year-old North Yorkshire ace's 21st season of racing at the highest level gets underway in Valencia, Spain tomorrow.

He and passenger Paul Woodhead will be riding under a new banner - Team Castrol Suzuki - and new colours.

After racing as a contracted rider for other teams since his comeback in 1995, Webster is back in full management control.

"We lost the title last year after three consecutive mid-season breakdowns with the old 120cc motor," said Webster.

"As soon as we changed to the new GSXR1000 engines at Brands Hatch we started finishing and winning again."

This year Webster has a new Suzuki GSXR 1000 engine and is looking to start where he finished off last season.

He'll be riding with the number four on his bike, reflecting his finishing position in last year's championship.

Tomorrow is the earliest start ever to one of Webster's campaigns yet the next race is not scheduled until May 17 when the teams are in Monza for the Italian GP.

Webster said: "We've never started the season so early - it's too early really. Although we've got basically the same set up as last year, we've still run out of time getting it all sorted.

"This weekend we've had to use a borrowed van to get down to Spain as our new truck isn't quite finished. We haven't been able to do any testing at all so just going and getting a good result will be the aim."

The title chase will be over nine rounds this year after the Malaysian GP was ruled out.

That means the whole of the championship will be held in Europe on tracks that are familiar to th North Yorkshire duo. The one exception is the race in Magny Cours in October which will be Webster's first race in France since 1992.

His main rival will be Steve Abbott, who won the crown last year for the first time in 20 years of trying.

Klaus Klaffenbock, the 2001 champion will be hoping to bounce back with the relaunched Liveonscreen Team - Webster's former backers.

Webster has suffered badly with mechanical trouble in the last two years but the opposition riders know he is the man to beat. He has been on pole position 47 times in the last 56 races since the start of the 1997 season. That run also included pole at every race last year.

Typiclal of his luck was Valencia last year when a cracked engine case slowed his outfit to 11th place after leading.

He was second at the track, where he also holds the lap record, in 2000 and 2001.

2003 Sidecar World Championship

March 1: Spain (Valencia), May 17: Italy (Monza), May 31: Germany (Oschersleben), June 14: Great Britain (Silverstone), June 21: San Marino (Misano), July 26: Great Britain (Brands hatch), September 6: Holland (Assen), September 27: Italy (Imola), October 18: France (Magby-Cours).

Updated: 11:49 Friday, February 28, 2003