NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP QUAD BIKE RACING FOR MARGATE

National championship quad bike racing comes to Margate Main Sands for the first time next month (Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 March).

Although the QRA Margate Beach Cross event is now into its fifth year, it's the first time that it has hosted rounds one and two of the new QRA UK Beach Cross Championship. This new six round championship, being held over three weekends at different beaches across the UK will expand into Europe in 2011, with the Margate event being the starting point each year.

Drawing in thousands of spectators, this free event will see two full days of racing by solo motorcross bikes, adult and youth quad bikes competing in a minimum of ten races, with action getting underway on both days at 9.30am.

More than 50 quad bike racers will be taking part in the event, including the reigning King of Margate and ten times ACU British Quad Champion Paul Winrow, who will be looking to retain his title. He will be making his debut riding for Austrian KTM Factory team. He is likely to be pushed all the way by French sand specialist Jérome Bricheux, who is crossing the channel once again, along with a number of fellow European competitors.

More than 40 solo motorcross riders are expected to take part in the action, with Paul Winrow amongst them. In addition to the adult classes, the 200/250cc Youth Quads join the event once again, after the success of their first steps on Margate Main Sands last year. Harry Miller and team mate Jak Griffiths of Jaks Quads will be out in the sand, looking to lift the youth title, being chased all the way by many other budding future stars of the sport.

There will be three races per class each day, along with practice and Quad Qualifier races on Saturday morning. In addition to the three races in each class on the Sunday, there will also be the Dash for Cash finals in the Adult Quads and Solo, bringing an exciting conclusion to the weekend.

Leader of Thanet District Council, Cllr. Sandy Ezekiel, said: "The quad bikes always make for a thrilling weekend of entertainment, with lots of exciting races over the two days. They always draw the crowds and now there's an additional reason to come along and see them in action, as they compete in the national championship. We're delighted that Margate is the starting point for that and I'm sure people will turn out to support the competitors in their first two races for that UK crown."

The event will be supported by a fairground and local market. To find out more, visit www.margatebeachcross.com