SIDECARCROSS ace Stuart Brown is hoping to put a wretched first half of the season behind him.
The British champion and world number five's campaign has been blighted by injuries in the International Grand Prix Sidecarcross series.
Brown, 32, underwent surgery last month after crashing out of the Croatian GP and forced him to miss the Holland stage of the tournament.
And the Macclesfield star's luck showed no sign of changing in the fifth race in the 11-event championship at Brou, France.
New passenger Marc Cooper suffered a serious back injury as the sidecar team crashed out in round three.
"We crashed uphill and the sidecar rolled back over Marc," said Brown, who is now on the look out for his third partner of the season.
"I need a replacement quickly because I definitely want to defend my leading position in the British Championship."
Three-times champion Brown was forced to search for a new sidekick after losing long-term team-mate Luke Peters.
Macc lad Peters has not been able to compete after breaking his legs and ribs in the Bulgarian GP last July - splitting up a team which has finished fifth in the world championships in the last two seasons.
"This year is completely different for me as I have to work with a new passenger," added Brown.
"I found a good replacement in Marc Cooper, although Marc has never raced at such high level as world championship."
Cooper has found the step up in class tough going but the pair hope to improve on their best finish of seventh in Bulgaria in the Lativian GP on July 10.
