SIDECAR World Cup champions Steve Webster and David James are back on home turf tomorrow after their winning start to the season in Australia.

SLICK STEVE: Easingwold's Steve Webster and passenger David James on their way to winning the Australian Grand prix will be looking for more of the same at Donington tomorrow

They will be competing in Round Two of the 1999 series at Donington Park, on their Team Olympia LCR Suzuki 1200

After that comfortable opening win at Philip Island, Webster arrives at his home circuit with maximum points.

The victory in Australia was the first win by a four stroke machine at World Championship level since Siggy Schauzu won the Austrian GP way back in 1974.

"It was good to get the win with the new bike in Australia, but it was new circuit for everybody, and it is a fast, open attacking kind of circuit. Donington is quite different and while the sheer power of the Suzuki was great out there, the slower corners at Donington will cause us some further problems.

"Because the bike is 35kg heavier, the mid-corner speed is slower than the two stroke bikes. However, the torque is much greater, so our exit speed is better, and the back tyre doesn't spin. What that means is there is going to be some real battles in the slow corners.

"Klaus Klaffenbock and Steve Abbott will be all over us going in, but we will be quicker coming out - we're all probably going to be neck and neck, so while it's going to be a good race for the spectators, it's going to be a very tough race for me" said the Easingwold ace.

That said, the champion is looking forward to racing on his favourite track on a new bike, and relishing the challenge.

"It's really good and such a relief to be back in a series that wants us, instead of always trying to do us down. And to be at Donington and on a track I know it will give me the first real yardstick to measure the new bike against last year's two stroke. I know every inch of the track and the different gearing and power characteristics of the new bike will become more apparent.

We'll know much better what direction to go in with chassis tuning. Having raced at Donington for years I know exactly where we should be at any point on the racing line - the new bike is going to be very different to set up."

A new and novel feature of the series this year is the Super Pole qualifying session. After everyone has qualified normally, there is another session for the top six fastest outfits only. The teams line up in the pit lane and are allowed out for one warming up lap before attempting one "flying lap," with no other outfits in the way.

Sunday's race will be Webster's 12th time out at Donington at this level, and his 124th World Championship race entered. For David James it's his 26th outing with Webster, and they'll be looking to a repeat of last year's Donington adventure when they took both pole and race win.

Webster sees his main rivals Klaffenbock with ex-Webster ballast Dolf Haenni on a 500 ADM will be very quick, but Webster is tipping local ace and long time friend and rival Steve Abbott to go well.

"Abbo has always struggled to get enough sponsorship to have the best equipment. He is stronger on the brakes than anyone, and this year, for the first time, I know for a fact he has got one hell of a fast engine - it's the one we used last year.

"He's never won a World Championship race and this could be a good chance for him. He is very quick at Donington, so I know I've got to take extra notice of him this weekend," said Webster.

After the sidecars there will a brace of Superbike races with World Champion Carl Fogarty on his 995cc factory Ducati looking to extend his lead in the 1999 series.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.