STEVE Webster and Paul Woodhead resume their fight to retain their Sidecar World Championship title tomorrow.

They haven't raced since tasting victory at Misano over a month ago and are desperate to bounce back at the Brands Hatch circuit in Kent in the seventh round of the 2001 series.

After two non-finishes in this campaign, Easingwold-based Webster currently trails championship leaders Klaus Klaffenbock and Christian Parzer by 25 points. With only four rounds to go, it's looking hard for Webster, but not impossible.

To retain his crown, he has to win every race, but if Klaffenbock manages to finish second to Webster, the Austrian will take the title for the first time.

With 100 points to play for, Webster really needs for Klaffenbock to finish lower than second in two races, or have a non-finish.

Said Webster: "We have to win, and we have to hope the others can get in there and keep 'Klaffy' down behind third, which won't be easy. In theory, we need to try to box up the race.

"We need to bring the others into it.

"If we clear off, we'll probably pull 'Klaffy' along with us and if the others can't keep up, 'Klaffy' will get the second place he needs."

The duo, who are backed by Liveonscreen.com, have the machinery to do the business.

"It is certainly the fastest and best handling outfit we've ever had. We also know from last year at Brands what tyre set-up we'll need with regards to both construction and compound.

"We seem to have about a one second advantage at most tracks this year just due to the set-up level we've reached."

The rear suspension, made by Eibach in Germany, means Webster can brake harder, and keep the power on later into the corners.

"It's much more stable out of the corners. It's the biggest single advantage we've had in the last couple of seasons. It really is a superb machine," said Webster.

Of Brands Hatch, with it's blind off-camber paddock bend, and the hilly wooded section, Webster said: "It's a tough track, no doubt about it, because it has every type of corner, all extremes.

"It's a track I like, and it seems to suit our style."

It'll be Webster's fourth outing to Brands for a World Championship race. In 1999 he suffered a non finish, and last year took second place at both visits.

It will also be the 149th World Championship race Webster has entered in his 18-season career.

Apart from Klaffenbock and Parzer, a strong challenge is anticipated from 1999 Brands' winner Steve Abbot, who emphasised the point by being fastest in yesterday's free practice.

Derby-based Abbott, 43, and passenger Jamie Biggs, fourth in the championship, were over a second quicker than Webster. Klaffenbock was fourth fastest.

There are also two Superbike races at Brands.

Australia's Troy Bayliss leads the championship by 53 points from reigning champion Colin Edwards.

Provisional poll holder Neil Hodgson is currently fifth, but is the Brands lap record holder and with the 100,000-plus crowd right behind him.

Updated: 11:56 Saturday, July 28, 2001