MOTOCROSS fever will hit north Kent on Sunday, when Swanley’s Canada Heights hosts the first round of the British Championship.

As usual, there will be a feast of action for the spectators, with the cream of the British riders plus a number of foreign wildcards taking part.

The Maxxis British Motocross Championship caters for the MX1 class for two stroke machines up to 250cc and four stroke machines up to 450cc, and the MX2 class for two stroke machines up to 125cc and four stroke machines up to 250cc.

Canada Heights will host two legs for each of the two classes.

The eight-round national series has attracted some of the finest motocross riders in the country, with international and Grand Prix competitors also taking part including Danny Theybers, Jurgen Van Nooten, Jussi Vehvilainen and Marko Kovalainen.

Local racers include Wiseco UK’s Mark Eastwood from Swanley, Ben Lambert Williams from Eltham on the KTM, and David Williams from Beckenham.

The riders will be tackling a completely redesigned track, as John Powell, press officer for event hosts Sidcup and District Motor Cycle Club, explained.

He said: "It’s a brand new track, and it’s quite radical. It runs in a reverse direction. Previously it had been the same for five or six years, and we just felt it was time for a change."

Practice and timed training starts at 9.30am, with a riders’ autograph session at 11.40am. The first of the British Championship races starts at 1.05pm.

A crowd of between 7,000 and 10,000 is expected for the event, depending on the weather. Admission will be £20, with concessions £10. Accompanied children under-14 will go free. Parking is also free, and there will be refreshments, trade stands and paddock walkabouts.