Rider come and try day a 'smashing success'

THE weekend's come and try day hosted by Whitsunday Dirt Riders has been heralded as a great success.

Club president Gavin Burgess said the day was all about rider training and giving young riders a safe and supportive place in which to ride their bikes.

"These kids are the future of the club and the future of motorcycle racing in general," he said.

Burgess said riders and their families has travelled from Mackay, Townsville, Ayr, Dysart and Bowen for a three-day long-weekend camp-out at the Lascelles Av track.

"Licenced riders and experienced racers are here as well and are giving tips to others riders, its a bit of a networking thing.

Though the club does hold races throughout the year but the weekend's event was a strictly a fun come and try day, Burgess said.

"There are a lot of kids that get a bike for Christmas and they fall off and don't want to have anything to do with it or mum don't want them to have anything to do with it. So what we are doing is getting those people to come here and help them understand 'this is not as bad as I thought'."

"It has been a smashing success and he have signed up 20-25 new pee-wee riders."

Local international supermoto rider Andy McLeish got his start in racing while with he Whitsunday Dirt Riders club.

Burgess said the skills learnt at the grass-roots club level offered a solid foundation for riders wanting to progress in the sport and ride speedway, motocross, supercross, road racing and supermoto competition.