After the disappointment of his engine breakdown at the last round at Monza two weeks ago, Easingwold's eight-time sidecar world champion, Steve Webster, has dusted himself down in readiness for tomorrow's test back on home soil.

Donington Park hosts the fourth round of the ten-race 2001 sidecar series in which Webster trails arch-rival Klaus Klaffenbock by 30 points.

Victories for the Austrian in Spain and Italy have given him a maximum score from the two races run and, with the season approaching the halfway mark, Webster knows he's got to start winning if he's going to rein in that points lead.

At least the cause of the engine mishap has been found - and more importantly understood. "It was the head gasket," explained Webster.

"It blew causing the water leak, but we've since changed to a better quality gasket and we're hoping it's cured it. We tested at Mallory Park on Wednesday and did about 30 fast laps with each engine to get them bedded in and we had no problems, the bike was just flying.."

The signs during the opening day's practice yesterday was that the problem has been fixed.

Webster and Woodhead grabbed provisional pole after posting a blistering time of 1 minute 36.981 seconds, over a second inside their own lap record for the circuit.

"Klaffy was a bit quicker than us in the untimed session. We had a few handling problems and the bike felt a bit "loose" so we made a few minor adjustments to the suspension and tyre pressures and it all came together quite well" said Webster.

Klaffenbock and Christian Parzer were second fastest on 1 min 37.438, with Jurg Steinhausen third, now passengered by Trevor Hopkinson after Bedale's Andy Hetherington quit the team.

Webster aded: "We just can't afford any more non-finishes. Hopefully we can get a good result and start to turn the season around."

Passenger Paul Wood-head, 34, is also looking forward to returning to home soil. "We both like racing at Donington. It's a track that suits us, the bike has got the power and we've got to start winning. Nothing else will be good enough if we're to keep Klaffy in our sights."

Despite Webster's love of his home circuit, he hasn't had much luck there recently. In 1999 he went out with a broken drive chain, and last year after building a commanding lead a misfiring spark plug slowed him enough to allow Klaffenbock to catch up and take the win, although the Austrian was thereafter disqualified for unintentional fuel regulation infringements, a matter which was not concluded until much later in the season.

Webster has won four times previously at the 2.5-mile Donington circuit, in 1987, '88, '89 and '98. Sunday's race will be his 146th World Championship race entered, and his 14th World Championship race at Donington Park.

Also on the bill is the two legs of the World Superbike races, and all eyes will be focused on Lancashire rider Neil Hodgson, who will be hoping to repeat his success of last year's round at Donington Park when as a wild-card rider he beat the world stars. Hodgson is now riding for the GSE Ducati Team in the World Superbike Championship.

Updated: 11:39 Saturday, May 26, 2001