ORGANISERS are gearing up to make a massive biking event bigger and better than ever.

ORGANISERS are gearing up to make Weston’s famous biking event bigger and better than ever.

The Beach Race will take place on October 20 and 21 and this year will mark the 25th year of the annual spectacular.

Sand will be flying and engines roaring as some of the motorbike racing world’s elite riders descend on the town.

On the Saturday there will be a youth quad race for the first time along with an adult quad and sidecar race, a youth 65cc event and a freestyle display.

The following day more than 900 competitors are expected to take on the course full of huge jumps, dunes and obstacles.

Much of the seafront will be used for the event, with a funfair, trade site and other family activities set up over the two days.

For drivers and spectators wanting to lay their weary heads somewhere after the action there are two official camp sites set up for the event, one off Weston seafront and another on Weston’s disused airfield.

For more details call Weston Tourist Information Centre on 01934 888800 or email westontouristinfo@n-somerset.gov.uk

• The police are also preparing for what could be the busiest weekend of their working year.

Extra officers will be drafted in to cope with the influx of people arriving in Weston for the race.

Five times as many police will be on duty compared to a normal weekend, from Friday to Sunday.

Number plate recognition systems will be set up around the town and, as well as foot patrols, there will be officers on horse back and dog handlers deployed.

Town centre sergeant Pete Land said: “These are the busiest nights of the year, with an extra 100,000 people expected to turn up in Weston.

“We want to do all we can to make sure people have a good time but go home safely.”

The event organisers are this year introducing a safe compound’ for participants and some spectators over the Sunday night.

Anyone interested should go to the daytime compound for instructions on where to leave their vehicles.

• An intrepid team of bikers travelled to Dunkirk last weekend in preparation for next weekend’s big race.

The Easyfit Auto Safety Centres team, based in Winterstoke Road, will be taking part in the challenge in aid of Weston Hospicecare, its chosen charity for 2007-8.

The team has been receiving tuition from Motocross World Grand Prix rider Brian Wheeler, before going on to compete in the annual Weston event.

EasyFit boss Paul Rogers said: “Most of us have raced for many years and, for me, at the age of 44, it will be my eighth time.

“I arranged for all of us to go to Dunkirk to a practice track similar to the one which is created in Weston.”

For more details about Weston Beach Race visit www.wbruk.com