Weston Super Mare Beach Race

The Weston Super Mare Beach Race takes place on the long stretches and wide beaches found on this north Somerset coastline resort. Staff and event planners will work for hours preparing the course so that there are high dunes, banks, hills and various obstacles to challenge to off road dirtbike motorcyclists.

The Weston Beach Race takes place in October each year and more than 50 staff members are employed to steward the event and make sure the course is ready for the spectators to enjoy. Watching this exciting and fantastic event is totally free of charge and can last well over three hours. The weather in Somerset can often be very wet and cloudy in October and this year’s event in 2013 was no exception. It made it all the more challenging for the motocross riders who would battle around the long course in a grueling, tough endurance race which attracts dirtbike riders from all over the world.

At times there are more than 150 off road bikers hurtling around the course and the spectator number often grows to more than 3,000 at times. The Weston Super Mare Beach Race is known throughout Europe by the off road biking community as one of the top endurance off road motorcycle races in Britain.

At times for the riders it becomes a test of physical and mental strength. There have been many physical injuries to off road bikers that have hurtled around this course. All competitors are required to take a tour around the course on foot with an experienced former champion and shown the kind of things they should avoid and how they can get round some of the more daunting sections of this grueling course.

The event is very popular and good for the local economy too. As it takes place in October when the summer season has come to an abrupt end, it helps bed and breakfast hotels and houses, as well as the huge number of take away food outlets and pubs to sell more produce. It has certainly survived the economic recession and keeps itself alive by putting up places to stay for the riders and their friends and families that have come to the town to support them.

The event takes place over three days with a children’s’ race, a practice race and the actual main event race which will take place on the Sunday afternoon.

We would love to hear from you if you have raced the Weston Beach Race, so please leave a comment below about your experiences there, how many times you’ve raced, and if, like me, your bike broke down at the furthest point from the pits (yes, I had the tow of shame!). Please also send us your photos for us to add to the page to share with others.