High octane thrills return to Margate for the ninth annual international beach motocross this weekend.

On Saturday and Sunday the main sands will be the stage for the season finale as around 100 competitors from all across the UK and northern Europe compete for points and titles.

The free event gets underway on Saturday and Sunday at 10am and it regularly attracts thousands of people on to the seafront promenade to witness the colourful, action-packed racing on the specially constructed dune circuit.

Thanet counci, Island Events and local traders have welcome the event back to the town. Organiser Tony Nash said: “It’s great to be back - this event is not just important to the area but to our sport. It’s great to have the support of the local traders and the council/authorities who have been so accommodating towards the event and working with the MC Federation; we are really looking forward to another cracking weekend.”

The track construction of jumps and undulations were created with the help of plant machinery from Ovenden’s Plant Hire.

The race programme is backed up with stalls and trade stands on the prom and near the old town. There are special functions for competitors on both the Friday and Saturday evenings planned too.

BLOB: The championship leaders are: Ovendens Open Solo Class - Arnauld Degousee, Arnaud Mordacq, and Cedric Tosatto, all from France. The Brake House Open Quad Class - Matthieu Ternynck, Jerome Bricheux (both from France), and Brit Stef Murphy.

For more information go online to www.margatebeachcross.com or www.qrauk.com.