Mick Headland retained the FIM Track Racing Sidecar 1000cc World Championship by finishing unbeaten in a rain-curtailed event at Brandon, Coventry, in the UK on Saturday.

Headland captured the 2009 title alongside Paul Waters, but was riding alongside his son Jesse at the 2010 event after he and Waters were involved in a high-speed crash at a meeting in New Zealand on 4 January this year where both racers suffered injuries.

In Coventry, the Aussie father-son duo won all three of their races, including a controversial clash with home favourites Mark Cossar and Andi Wilson, in a meeting which was delayed after heavy rain.

Track staff worked hard to produce a raceable surface although there were still multiple race stoppages and re-runs, and eventually another downpour after 12 heats saw the meeting abandoned with the result declared.

The meeting of Headland and Cossar saw the Australians hold off severe pressure for much of the race, only for Cossar to drive down the inside into turn three on lap three, which forced Headland to spin to a halt.

But fortunately for the reigning champions, the referee ruled that he had already put the red lights on with another outfit stranded on the exit of turn four – and in the re-run, Headland charged away and was never threatened.

Cossar’s misery was complete when mechanical failure put him out of the lead in what turned out to be his final ride, with the rostrum completed by second-placed Gary Jackson, and third Richard Moore.