IT has been six long weeks since North Yorkshire's world sidecar racing champion Steve Webster and passenger Paul Woodhead's last outing on their fearsome 1200cc Suzuki outfit, but this weekend they are back on the championship trail and raring to go.

The fast and spectacular Brands Hatch track is the venue for round eight of the eleven-round world series.

Last time out, way back on June 25, in Valencia, Spain, Webster finished second to his arch rivals Klaus Klaffenbock and Dolf Haenni and saw his championship lead cut to 13 points.

However, that did not tell the full story as Klaffenbock has had hanging over him the threat of losing the 25 points from his earlier win at Donington.

It seems that all avenues of appeal have been exhausted and continental magazines are reporting that the 25 points have been deducted.

At the moment, Webster, from Easingwold, has 155 points to Klaffenbock's 142.

If it is finally officially confirmed that Klaffenbock's disqualification stands, Webster gains five points from his Donington second place turning into a win, and Klaffenbock's revised total is 117.

With three races remaining after Brands Hatch, things start to look a little more favourable for Webster's title hopes.