Getting sand in their crevices: Weymouth Motocross

Thousands of people have been lining Weymouth’s seafront to watch motocross riders race across the beach. For the riders, it’s exhilarating and exhausting. For the audience it’s a chance to get close to high speed motor sport for free.

The Weymouth Beach Race has been running for thirty years and attracts riders from across the country. This year more than 250 are taking part. They race several laps, slaloming across the sand and over specially created jumps. Organisers say the soft sand provides a special challenge to riders at the end of the motocross season.

The event provides a valuable boost to Weymouth’s tourist industry outside the main holiday season. It’s organised by the Lion’s Club which has built it into a two day event. Now there are displays and entertainment on the Saturday, before the serious racing takes place on Sunday.

With racing underway, the crowds are enthralled. The higher riders get over the jumps, the louder the cheer. At one point, racing is delayed as a spade is brought out dig a rider and his bike from the sand. Riders say it’s great fun until they get home and have to spend hours clearing sand from every bit of their motorbikes.