The motocross season came to a screeching halt for two St. David's youngsters this week when their expensive cycles were stolen from a garage in Smith's.

Howard Paynter, 13, a student at St. George's Secondary School, had been battling for second place with Craig Panchaud behind Jamel Hassell in the Bermuda Auto-Cycle Union's Pepsi National Championship motocross series at Coney Island.

But with the theft of his 1995 Yamaha 80, worth about $5,000, his racing is finished for this year.

The other cycle stolen from the garage near John Smith's Bay -- a Yamaha Peewee -- belonged to seven-year-old Aaron Cannonier, also from St. David's. A larger motocross bike -- a 125 belonging to Mr. Otis Ingham -- was not stolen.

Both riders were said to be "devastated'' by the thefts, which happened overnight on Sunday. And due to the nature of motocross riding, the two cycles were not insured.

The two motocross bikes were among 25 cycles stolen around the Island over the weekend.

Since motocross cycles are banned from the roads, it is believed the thieves snuck the cycles across the road, then down the South Shore beach to escape detection.

Both bikes were white with purple trim. Howard's mother, Ms Terry Furbert, said her son's cycle was only a few months old.

They were stolen from the garage behind Howard's grandmother's house, and Howard was "in shock'' when he heard the news yesterday morning, she said.

"He was so looking forward to riding the next few weeks,'' Ms Furbert said.

"Now, he'll not be able to finish the season.'' Howard "worked all summer'' to help pay for the bike so he could compete at Coney Island.

"You look forward to it all year long, and to get almost two-thirds through the season and all of a sudden it's snatched away from you, it's heartwrenching for kids,'' she said.

"We're definitely hoping that we get it back,'' Ms Furbert said of her son's cycle. "It's not only Howard's disappointment, it's kind of bad for the other kids, too.'' With "a real battle'' taking place in the standings all season long, nobody wanted to win by default, she said.

"I hope whoever took it would return it,'' said Mr. Ras Mykkal, president of the Bermuda Auto-Cycle Union. "The sad thing is that you can't ride it anywhere without being spotted, so people who do things like that have a tendency to discard the bikes underwater.

"I would hate to see somebody do that. I hope they throw the bikes in the bushes and somebody will find them.'' FINISH LINE -- The motocross racing season is over for Aaron Cannonier, 7, and Howard Paynter, 13. They are the latest victims of the motorcycle theft epidemic in Bermuda.