Steve Webster

Steve Webster M.B.E. - The British Master of Sidecar Racing

Introduction

Steve Webster is undoubtedly one of the greatest all-time sidecar racers but unfortunately his efforts go un-noticed to many as the sport is not publicised as much as it should be. However, you don't get an M.B.E. for nothing. Well done Steve for your achievements in the industry and keep up the good work.

Team Castrol Suzuki’s sidecar racing legend Steve Webster M.B.E. has announced his immediate retirement from the sport. Amid emotional scenes at the Circuit van Drenthe at Assen, Holland on Sunday, the ten time World Champion announced he was going to hang up his leathers and helmet for good.

His decision calls to an end a magnificent and unparalleled record-breaking career that has seen him rise from a 19-year-old club racer to the most successful sidecar racer in the history of the FIM World Championships.

Steve 'Webbo' Webster MBE won 62 World Championship races on the way to collecting 10 World Titles in a career spanning 25 years from novice rider to the undisputed king of 3-wheels.

Race Career - Facts and Figures

Sidecar World Championship/F.I.M World Cup Wins;
1987 - STEVE WEBSTER/Tony Hewitt (GB)
1988 - STEVE WEBSTER/Tony Hewitt GB)
1989 - STEVE WEBSTER/Tony Hewitt (GB)
1991 - STEVE WEBSTER/Gavin Simmons (GB)
1997 - STEVE WEBSTER/David James (GB)
1998 - STEVE WEBSTER/David James (GB)
1999 - STEVE WEBSTER/David James (GB)
2000 - STEVE WEBSTER/Paul Woodhead (GB)
2003 - STEVE WEBSTER/Paul Woodhead (GB)
2004 - STEVE WEBSTER/Paul Woodhead (GB)
2005 - Retires from motorsport

Sidecar World Champion/F.I.M.World Cup Race Winners Merit Table (All-time top ten);
1. R. Biland (CH) - 82 Wins - (1975-1997)
2. S. WEBSTER (GB) - 57 Wins - (1986-2003)
3. K. Enders (D) - 27 Wins - (1967-1974)
4. E. Streuer (NL) - 22 Wins - (1982-1992)
5. A. Michel (F) - 18 Wins - (1976-1991)
6. E. Oliver (GB) - 17 Wins - (1949-1953)
7. F. Scheidegger (CH) - 16 Wins - (1959-1966)
7. K. Klaffenbock (A) - 16 Wins - (1997- 2003)
9. M. Deubel (D) - 12 Wins - (1961-1965)
10. H. Fath (D) - 11 Wins - (1960-1969)
Sidecar World Championship/F.I.M. World Cup Title Wins - 1949-2000 (TOP12);
1 S.WEBSTER (GB) - 9 Wins - 1987/88/89/91/97*/98*/99*, 2000/03
2 R.Biland (CH) - 7 Wins - 1978/79/81/83/92/93/94
3 K.Enders (D) - 6 Wins - 1967/69/70/72/73/74
4= M.Deubel (D) - 4 Wins - 1961/62/63/64
4= E.Oliver (GB) - 4 Wins - 1949/50/51/53
5 E.Streuer (NL) - 3 Wins - 1984/85/86
6 H.Fath (D) - 2 Wins - 1960/68
6= W.Noll (D) - 2 Wins - 1954/56
6= F.Scheidegger (CH) - 2 Wins - 1965/66
6= W.Schneider (D) - 2 Wins - 1958/59
6= R.Steinhausen (D) - 2 Wins - 1975/76
6= Darren Dixon (GB) - 2 Wins - 1995/96


Steve Webster G.P./FIM World Cup Results

Wins
1986 - BEL
1987 - ESP(Jer), GER(Hoc), GB(Don)
1988 - GB(Don), SWE, CZ
1989 - USA, GER(Hoc), NL, GB(Don)
1990 - ESP(Jer), GER(Nur), FRA(Lem)
1991 - USA, ESP(Jer), ITA(Mis), A, EUR(Jar)
1992 - ESP(Jer), GER(Hoc)
1993 - GER(Hoc), SWE
1997 - HUN, NL, GER(Hoc), SWE, CZ, CRO
1998 - A(Salz), NL, GB(Don), Ger(Osch)
1999 - AUS, ESP(Alb), ITA(Mon), A(Zel), NL, GER(Hoc)
2000 - AUS, GB(Don), ITA(Mon), ITA(Mis)
2001 - GER(Lz), ITA(Mis), GB(BH), ITA(Im)
2002 - SA(Kya), GB(BH), Ger(Osch), NL
2003 - Esp(Val), Ger(Osch), GB (Sil), GB(BH), NL, NL(2)

2nd
1985 - GER(Nur)
1986 - A, NL, GB (Sil)
1987 - NL, SWE
1988 - GER(Nur), BEL, FRA(Ric)
1989 - BEL, FRA(Lem), CZ
1990 - USA, ITA(Mis), A, CZ
1991 - FRA(Ric), GB(Don), RSM(Mug)
1992 - NL, HUN
1993 - NL, FIM(Jar)
1994 - GER(Hoc)
1996 - NL, CZ
1999 - GER(Nur), RSM(Mis)
2000 - SA(Kya), GER(Hoc), ESP(Val), GB(BH), GER(Osc), GB(BH)
2001 - ESP(Val)
2002 - ITA (Mon) ITA(Im)

3rd
1984 - GER(Nur)
1985 - A, SWE
1986 - FRA(Ric), GER(Hoc)
1987 - FRA(Lem), CZ
1988 - POR(Jer), A, NL
1989 - SWE, CZ
1990 - YUG
1991 - CZ, VIT(Lem)
1992 - GB(Don)
1993 - CZ
1994 - GB(Don)[1st race], GB(Don)[2nd race], CZ, NL
1996 - ITA(Mug), GER(Hoc), GB(Don)
1998 - CRO, ITA (Mis)
2003 - ITA (Mis)

Key Facts;
From 172 Grand Prix and World Championship races entered, but 169 race results to date, as 1985 GB (Silv), 1993 Austria (Zelt) and 2001 Australia were cancelled on race day after qualifying due to adverse weather conditions;
Wins - 57
Second Place - 37
Third Place - 27
Rostrum Places - 121
143 Points Scoring Rides/Race finishes
121 rostrum places from 143 finishes means 84.6% of Webster’s race finishes have been top three places.
40 Pole Position and Wins at same race
78 Pole Positions (counts 2003 NL two races as one pole, as only one qualifying session for two races)
1st GP - 1983, GB - finished 5th
1st Rostrum - 1984, Germany-finished 3rd (5th ever GP)
1st Pole Position - 1985, Holland
1st Win - 1986, Belgium
1st World Title - 1987

Passengers:
1983 - 1989 - Tony Hewitt - 43 races, 10 wins
1989 - 1993 - Gavin Simmons - 42 races, 13 wins
1994 - Adolf Haenni - 8 races
1995 - 1999 - David James - 29 races, 16 wins
2000 - Paul Woodhead - 40 races, 18 wins

World Championship/F.I.M. World Cup* Results:
1983 - 16th
1984 - 8th
1985 - 4th (didn't complete full season due to Assen crash)
1986 - 3rd
1987 - 1st
1988 - 1st
1989 - 1st
1990 - 3rd
1991 - 1st
1992 - 2nd
1993 - 2nd
1994 - 2nd
1995 - 19th (only entered one race - last of season, and finished 5th)
1996 - 3rd
1997 - 1st
1998 - 1st
1999 - 1st
2000 - 1st
2001 - 2nd
2002 - 4th
2003 - 1st

Steve has won nine World Titles, been runner-up four times, third three times and 4th twice.

Other titles:
British Clubman's Champion - 1982
British Champions - 1985-86-87-88
British Supercup Champions - 1989, 1992.