Despite an heroic and spectacular last lap effort to reel in arch rival Klaus Klaffenbock, Easingwold's sidecar champion Steve Webster missed the race victory by a mere 0.211 seconds in the eighth round of the world series at Brands Hatch yesterday.

It had been the closest of the season so far with Webster and Klaffenbock battling from the off to the very last corner.

Entering the last lap right on Klaffenbock's tail, Webster tried everything in the book as he sent clouds of tyre smoke up sliding out of Druids Corner, elevating the sidecar wheel and getting all wheels off the ground over Brands Hatch's spectacular hills.

"I tried everything to get past but Klaus made his bike 20 feet wide in the corners and kept us out," said Webster.

"We just ran out of time but it was a fantastic race, very fair, very hard and very close. Second is good enough for the championship now for us so I'm happy.

"I knew Klaus would be trying extra hard after his Donington disqualification because he needed to win to keep any hope of the championship open for him, and he rode very well and did what he needed to.

"I've no complaints about coming second in a race like that."

It had been confirmed before the race that Klaffenbock's Donington disqualification would stand, handing that victory to Webster.

That meant that Webster went to the grid with a 43-point advantage but Klaffenbock's win yesterday trims it back to 38.

Klaffenbock admitted it was his toughest battle of the year.

He said: "I only knew we had won when we had crossed the line, Steve is very fast here and my plan was to follow him to see where he was fastest and show me the quick way, and it worked.

"We're very happy and Dolf did a great job for me. Just getting five points back on Steve was important for us after Donington."

Despite coming second, Webster's passenger Paul Woodhead enjoyed his wild last lap.

"We were in the air quite a few times, and it was important for us to try to win because it's our home race," he said.

"I do think we'd have got away from Klaffy when we were leading until we got caught up with backmarkers and he caught us up again, but we'll have to take the second place."

The next round is in Holland on September 3 but the unconfirmed rumour sweeping the paddock was that the last round, scheduled for Imola in Italy on October 15, will be cancelled, with the race diverted back to Brands Hatch, meaning the championship for both Sidecars and Superbikes will finish in England.

That is however subject to confirmation by the FIM today. It means there are still 75 points left to play for in the Sidecar World Cup, but with a handsome 38 point lead it's looking good for an eighth title for Webster.

PICTURE: SECOND BEST: Runners-up Steve Webster and Paul Woodhead (left) on the rostrum with winners Klaus Klaffenbock and Adolf Hanni after their epic battle at Brands Hatch.