Steve Webster (sidecar racer)
Encyclopedia
Steve Webster MBE
(born 1959/60), is an English
sidecar
racer who has won a record ten FIM
Sidecar World Championships
, making him the most successful sidecar
racer ever. Webster began as a 19 year old racing at club level and quickly moved up to national and then world championship in 1983, winning his first world championship in 1987 while partnered with Tony Hewitt
MBE
, riding an LCR
-Yamaha
machine. From 181 Grand Prix
and World Cup races entered, he has had 62 wins, 37 second places and 27 third places as well as 82 pole positions. He has won the FIM
Sidecar World Championship on 10 occasions, with Tony Hewitt, Gavin Simmons, David James and Paul Woodhead. In 1985 Webster and Hewitt had a massive crash at the Dutch TT
at Assen
, shown many times on television where the sidecar left the track at high speed, slid along the grass before hitting a drainage ditch. The accident caused the pair to miss most of the season.
Steve Webster was the recipient of the Segrave Trophy
in 1991.
In 2005 Webster announced his retirement after health problems prevented him finishing the season.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1959/60), is an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
sidecar
Sidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
racer who has won a record ten FIM
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
Sidecar World Championships
Superside
style="float:right"|FIM Sidecar World Championship is the international sidecar racing championship. It is one of the two remaining original FIM road racing championship classes that started in 1949, the other being the 125cc world championship...
, making him the most successful sidecar
Sidecar
A sidecar is a one-wheeled device attached to the side of a motorcycle, scooter, or bicycle, producing a three-wheeled vehicle.-History:A sidecar appeared in a cartoon by George Moore in the January 7, 1903, issue of the British newspaper Motor Cycling. Three weeks later, a provisional patent was...
racer ever. Webster began as a 19 year old racing at club level and quickly moved up to national and then world championship in 1983, winning his first world championship in 1987 while partnered with Tony Hewitt
Tony Hewitt
Tony Hewitt is a British House Music DJ and producer. He has been resident DJ at the Gathering and Funky Tekno Tribe parties in San Francisco. He has headlined at La Terrazza in Barcelona, OTB Club in Zagreb, Croatia, Fabric in London and numerous venues worldwide.Hewitt has produced under several...
MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, riding an LCR
Louis Christen Racing
Louis Christen Racing, commonly known as LCR, is a Swiss sidecar manufacturer named after founder Louis Christen. LCR sidecars have dominated sidecar road racing winning 25 World Sidecar Championships including every one of Steve Webster's 10 world championships.LCR started in 1971 building open...
-Yamaha
Yamaha Motor Company
, is a Japanese motorized vehicle-producing company. Yamaha Motor is part of Yamaha Corporation and its headquarter is located in Iwata, Shizuoka. Along with expanding Yamaha Corporation into the world's biggest piano maker, then Yamaha CEO Genichi Kawakami took Yamaha into the field of motorized...
machine. From 181 Grand Prix
Grand Prix motorcycle racing
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix is the premier championship of motorcycle road racing currently divided into three distinct classes: 125cc, Moto2 and MotoGP. The 125cc class uses a two-stroke engine while Moto2 and MotoGP use four-stroke engines. In 2010 the 250cc two-stroke was replaced...
and World Cup races entered, he has had 62 wins, 37 second places and 27 third places as well as 82 pole positions. He has won the FIM
Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme
The Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme is the governing body of motorcycle racing. It represents 103 national motorcycle federations that are divided into six regional continental unions....
Sidecar World Championship on 10 occasions, with Tony Hewitt, Gavin Simmons, David James and Paul Woodhead. In 1985 Webster and Hewitt had a massive crash at the Dutch TT
Dutch TT
The Dutch TT is a motorcycling event, traditionally held on the last Saturday of June at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands, as part of the MotoGP World Championship. In the past all classes , nowadays only the 125 cc, Moto2 and the MotoGP...
at Assen
TT Circuit Assen
The TT Circuit Assen is a motorsport race track built in 1955 and located in Assen, Netherlands. Host of the Dutch TT race, it is considered "The Cathedral" of motorcycling by the fans...
, shown many times on television where the sidecar left the track at high speed, slid along the grass before hitting a drainage ditch. The accident caused the pair to miss most of the season.
Steve Webster was the recipient of the Segrave Trophy
Segrave Trophy
The Segrave Trophy is awarded to the British national who accomplishes the most outstanding demonstration of the possibilities of transport by land, sea, air, or water. The trophy is named in honour of Sir Henry Segrave, and has been awarded in most years since 1930.A subsidiary award, the Segrave...
in 1991.
In 2005 Webster announced his retirement after health problems prevented him finishing the season.
Further reading
- www.stevewebsterracing.com
- www.superside.com
- www.lcr-sidecar.com
- See Steve Webster's biography, "A Bit On The Side" for more.