At a glance the race track at Bermuda Motorsports Park appears ordinary.

There are straightaways, tight corners and the odd bump in the road ? all obstacles that personify one Bermudian?s struggle to discourage racing on local streets and provide a safe environment where motor enthusiasts can compete.

His name is David Jones, president of Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Club (BMRC).

Since the days when he himself played Russian Roulette pack racing on Bermuda?s narrow roads, Jones dared to dream.

It is a dream which has taken 24 years to come to fruition, but one he believes is certainly worth the wait.

?It hasn?t been easy. We have been pushing for this race track for the past eight years but now we are here. This race track is for future generations who might still be racing on the streets like I did when I was younger if we did not have this facility,? Jones told

?But they are now in a safer place and this was one of our main objectives from the very outset, taking the kids off the streets and saving lives. And I hope people can understand this and not just see this simply as a race track for young men to go racing about.

?It?s much more than that and unfortunately something we did not have many, years ago because I have many friends who died pack racing on the streets. But now our youngsters can dream a bit earlier and nurture their skills in a safer environment.?

Jones and his 250 strong BMRC membership have quickly acclimatised to their new ?home? since taking up residence earlier this year.

?We now have a place to call home,? he smiled. ?Before we had to shuffle all around the Island or relocate every other season. But we are very comfortable and the members are quite happy with the facility. It?s very stable and has definitely exceeded our expectations.?

Jones? passion for racing really took flight in the 1990s when he successfully completed a course at American Motorcycle Institute in Florida and then competed professionally on the Super Bike circuit for several years at Daytona Beach ? regarded by many as the motorsports Mecca.

Once Jones? racing career ended, a dream of providing locals with a suitable race track facility really shifted into high gear.

?When I returned to Bermuda in ?97 this was something I really wanted to do,? he said. ?That?s when I first founded the club (BMRC). When we actually started out racing we had a membership of around 15 riders. Spectators weren?t even allowed back then to watch us race and we had to pay a fee just to race (at Morgan?s Point).?

Then there were the sceptics.

?A lot of small minded people tried to discourage us but we had to look beyond them and remained focused on the bigger picture. Bermudians need to stop keeping each other down and this is one of our main problems here on this Island. We badger each other and nobody dares dream or think outside of the box,? argued the 40-year-old president.

?If I had allowed people to hold me back then I don?t think that track would be there right now. And this was not just given to us because I struggled for the entire eight years. I attended many meetings alone, met financial demands without any sponsorship or assistance from other clubs.

?At times I was a one man crusade and many people tried to discourage me. But I always told myself to ?stay at the wicket and the runs will come?. And that?s exactly what I did.?

If there?s a single individual who has remained in Jones? corner, then sister Sheila immediately comes to mind.

?She has been there from day one and has taken care of all the administrative duties. Basically she was my knight in shining armour and I don?t know where we would be without her assistance,? he said.

On any given race day members ? consisting of both male and female riders ? compete among five separate classes ranging from Mini Bikes to the intimidating 600cc Super Bikes.

The 2005 race season reaches a climax this Sunday when BMRC host the Fresh TV Trophy series ? the season?s grand finale at Clearwater.

With the new facility now in place, Jones reckons it should not be long before Bermudian riders make a big impression on the world stage.

?Bermuda already has world champions,? he noted. ?From Derek Simons (powerboat), Teresa Perozzi (NABC World Middleweight Champion), Patrick Singleton (Luge) and World Cup cricket . . . Bermuda is hot.

?And there are lots of naturally talented riders here in Bermuda and to be honest I think we have already made our mark on the world stage with the likes of Shannon Caisey, Devon Bailey, Billy Dunn and many others.

?But I predict Bermuda will have a world champion rider within the next ten years.?

As for Sunday?s grand finale, Jones urged: ?Hopefully everyone comes out to enjoy the atmosphere and witnesses some serious racing because these guys are racing for real.

?People are only now realising these guys are doing the same as those you might see racing on TV. This is the real thing and we are still growing.?