Excitement is building as motocross riders prepare to race it out on Weymouth Beach this weekend.

Weymouth & Portland Lions Club and Purbeck Motocross Club are working in partnership again to bring the annual Beach Motocross event to Weymouth.

More than 300 riders will race over the sands watched by an audience of thousands.

The beach will be transformed into a motocross course, complete with bumps and jumps.

Jake Shipton from Wareham will be among the riders revving his engine on the beach.

He won the Weymouth motocross events in 2014, 2015 and 2017 before taking a break, and is hoping to win again this year.

He said: "I am excited to get on Weymouth Beach. It is a good event with good crowds. I have family and friends coming down so it is nice to be doing something local.

"The track is set up by riders for riders. It means that the course is always nice to race.

"Just get everyone down here and come have a look, whether you have seen the sport before or not, come see what it is all about."

On Saturday, October 14 there will be a motocross demonstration at 3pm. On Sunday, October 15 the racing will start at 1pm with racers from junior, senior and expert levels.

Deputy Mayor, Cllr Alex Fuhrmann will be on hand to start the first race on Sunday.  

Alf Stearn, chairman of the Purbeck Motocross Club, said: "There will be about 100 riders on the line and they will be going around 90mph down the straight.

"The sand here is very fine, completely different from some other places. The bikes will need to be set up differently.

"Most motocross is done in fields, so it is nice to do an event that brings families to the seaside."

Mayor of Weymouth Kate Wheller said: “Each year this event attracts thousands of spectators as well as some of the best motocross riders in the country. I would encourage everyone to come along and watch this highlight in Weymouth's events calendar. I am also delighted to be giving out the prizes to all the winners of the racing."

This is an amateur event and there will be prizes for the first 10 riders.

Organiser Ryan Hope from the Lions said: "Last year this event raised more than £8,500. It is a fantastic event for the town."

On Saturday and Sunday, October 14 and 15, from the Pavilion end of the beach to the Jubilee Clock, the beach will be closed to the public from 8am. This is to allow heavy machinery to come onto the beach and build the sand jumps needed for the motocross.   

Road closures will be in place from 8am to 5pm on Sunday which will see part of the Esplanade and Custom House Quay closed.

The road fronting Devonshire Buildings will be open for access only.

Traffic will be re-routed through the one-way system around Alexandra Gardens to continue on the Esplanade, or drivers can use Pilgrims Way for access to Custom House Quay.