members of the Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Club.

The club had been racing at a temporary track at Clearwater Beach but a recent accident involving club president David Jones has led to a move back to their old Southside home.

BMRC riders had been asked to leave Southside by the Bermuda Land Development Company because of plans to develop the area.

BMRC were not happy about the move, however, believing the Clearwater site -- located on a carpark -- was inadequate for their purposes.

Members cited the possibilities of accidents and also problems caused by people wanting to visit the beach and other amenities and not the racetrack.

Ironically, the Bermuda Karting Club, which also used the Southside site, is more than happy with the Clearwater track and intends staying on.

"We asked BLDC if they would be so kind as to let us to go back there (Southside) because we are not happy with Clearwater and it looks like we have got it for the rest of the year,'' said Grant Goudge, BMRC spokesman.

Criticising the Clearwater track, which Government spent a considerable amount of money on laying, Goudge said: "It was just totally unsuitable for motorcycle racing, both in terms of crowd control, safety and wear and tear on machinery. It's just not a motorcycle racetrack -- it's a carpark.'' The club has had two meetings at Clearwater -- two others were cancelled because of the weather.

"David (Jones) went through the crash barriers last week and struck a couple of cars. He was quite badly injured and that just highlighted the fact that it's not acceptable,'' Goudge said.

Tomorrow sees one of the biggest races of the year for the club, the World Distributors Trophy Day.

"We are keen to say the sport flourish in Bermuda,'' said World Distributors general manager, Bill McNiven.

"We sell performances bikes so it is in our interests to be involved.'' The company is paying for the trophies on the day and also sponsors one of the bikes.

"We would like to see this become at least an annual event,'' said McNiven who added he believed the sport had a good future, if a proper facility was constructed.

The number of laps tomorrow has been increased from 20 to 26 to make the most of the larger track at Southside and a Super-Poll format has been brought in with qualifying starting at 11.30 p.m.

Goudge said he was looking forward to a big turnout tomorrow, both from competitors and spectators.

"All the racers are 100 per cent happier and I think some of those that were drifting in and out because of Clearwater will come back and the crowds were normally bigger down there anyway,'' he said.