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Thousands line promenade for beach motocross

News imageLynne Fisher / St John's Guesthouse Side view of a motocross rider on top of a sand ramp where a marshall wearing a hi-viz jacket is standing. It's a cloudy day and the sea and the chalk cliffs of Weymouth Bay can be seen in the background.Lynne Fisher / St John's Guesthouse

Thousands of people ignored threatening skies and headed to the coast to watch an annual beach motocross event.

The sandy beach in Weymouth, Dorset, was transformed into a mile-long race track for the two-day event.

Practice and demonstrations began on Saturday afternoon with racing taking place throughout Sunday.

The event, organised by Purbeck Motocross Club and Weymouth & Portland Lions Club, was free to attend but a raffle and collection is held for local charities.

News imageLynne Fisher / St John's Guesthouse Five motocross riders negotiate a hairpin bend on the sandy beach race track. More riders can be seen in the distance. A long row of Victorian terraced houses lines the promenade.Lynne Fisher / St John's Guesthouse

The course was created between the Pavilion and Jubilee Clock using excavators and earth movers.

The Pavilion car park was turned into a race village for more than 260 competitors, while spectators packed the length of the promenade.

News imageMike Wood Three motocross winners stand in a line holding their trophies with the mayor and mayoress either sideMike Wood

The expert class was won overall by French rider Adrien Petit.

Brett Rowland won the seniors group, Jim Davies won the veterans over-40 class and Connor Williams was the overall winner in the juniors.

News imageLynne Fisher / St John's Guesthouse Six motocross riders viewed from behind as they approach a mound of sand with spectators watching from the promenade lined with palm trees.Lynne Fisher / St John's Guesthouse

The beach motocross has been held in Weymouth almost continuously since 1984 and has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for local charities.

Organisers said they expected about £1,800 would be handed over to the Weymouth and Portland Lions Club this year, with £1,200 going to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

News imageLynne Fisher / St John's Guesthouse Dozens of motocross riders line up on Weymouth Beach in front of a marshall who is holding a red flag. Behind them is the sea and Weymouth peninsula and the Pavilion theatre - a large building with a green roof.Lynne Fisher / St John's Guesthouse
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