Motorcycle enthusiasts have described their racing ban from Morgan?s Point as a ?slap in the face?.

The Ministry of Sport sent a letter to Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Club president David Jones telling him his group could no longer use the facility with immediate effect, leaving Jones and his 300 members furious.

Jones claims he was given verbal approval in early May to use the quarter-mile long track for Sunday meetings and four meets have so far attracted around 30 riders apiece.

But the Ministry?s ban looks set to cause the cancellation of racing until the scheduled season finish in October.

And Jones is furious that upwards of $5,000 spent on resurfacing the corners on the track to make them safe for racing ? not to mention hundreds of man hours ? has now been wasted.

?It is just a slap in the face for us,? said Jones, who was told that racing could continue at Morgan?s Point until a new facility at Clearwater was built.

?You would think the Ministry of Sport?s role would be to promote sport ? not stop it.

?We had eight members back in November, but since we have been practising at Morgan?s Point that has steadily increased up to 300.

?We have had 30 riders regularly competing up there and this weekend we had a sponsored race, with Cycle Care & Spares flying in trophies from England as prizes for the event.

?It is a real shame that this has happened ? this is no way to treat a flourishing sport.?

Jones pointed out that Bermudians who had practised on the short track had picked up some measure of success abroad with Shannon Caisey making the winners? podium in both Texas and Monterrey, Mexico.

?We have some real talent here,? added Jones, who used to race in Daytona.

?It would be such a shame if it went to waste because we are being denied the chance to use the facility. We have put a lot of time and money into making sure the track is usable and to see it being taken away from us now hurts real bad.

?We have been talking about moving to the Clearwater site, but no progress seems to be being made with that.?

Jones is scheduled to meet with Ministry officials on Thursday over the Clearwater site and is hoping to successfully lobby the decision-makers to allow Sunday?s meet ? and the seven remaining events of the season up to October 24 ? to be hosted on the former Southampton Naval Annex after all.

Sports Minister Dale Butler and Director of Sport Brenton Roberts were off the Island and unavailable for comment yesterday.