THOUSANDS of bike enthusiasts flocked to Weymouth this weekend for the return of the much-anticipated Beach Motocross competition.
The huge crowds which gathered on The Esplanade were fortunate with the sunny and mild weather on Sunday, October 10 as a total of 269 riders across different racing categories put pedal to the metal - and negotiated a course of jumps and bumps along the beach.
Ahead of the event, which has been running since 1984, riders and spectators alike said they were excited to see it come back to the town after it was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Once again Weymouth Beach was transformed into a motocross course which saw three classes of riders - expert, senior and junior - participate in two races each.
READ MORE: Green light for Motocross Race 2021 on Weymouth Beach
Bikes were entering the sands from noon for practice laps before the racing began at 1pm.
The yearly extravaganza, organised by Weymouth & Portland Lions Club and Purbeck Motocross Club, was said to be a welcome economy boost for the area during what is usually considered the quieter months after the main summer season.
Craig Oakes, president of Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce, said: "It is great to see the motocross event back again, unfortunately it was not able to go ahead last year during Covid times but it is certainly a great thing to see return for Weymouth and Portland.
"It has always been well received and draws in a lot of people from all over the place to the area. It happens outside of our busy season, so it is always a great boost for local businesses."
Parts of The Esplanade and Custom House Quay were temporarily closed on Sunday for the event between 9am and 5pm - from the Pavilion Car Park up to the small roundabout next to Weymouth Pavilion causing some queuing and slower traffic in the area on the day.
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