Bid to keep motocross jumps (From This is Hampshire)

Bid to keep motocross jumps

2:43pm Wednesday 20th December 2006 in News

AFTER staging a prestigious motocross event at Matterley Basin, near Winchester, organisers are bidding to make some of the jumps and bumps used on the circuit a permanent feature.

The Matterley Basin circuit held the sport's largest event - The Motocross of Nations - three months ago.

The competition attracted riders from around the world, along with an audience of around 50,000.

While the event resulted in a bumper weekend for the district's tourist trade, it also caused traffic woes for residents in the upper Itchen Valley.

The event followed on from the British Motocross GP in June, which was the first race held at the new Matterley Basin track.

While the worldwide event is not expected to return to Winchester in the near future, the smaller national race is due to take place at the venue every year until 2009.

Steve Dixon, who runs a motocross team in Swanmore, spearheaded the plan to bring both events to the district.

However, he suffered a setback when Winchester City Council refused permanent planning permission for the Matterley Basin track.

He was able to stage the events, but afterwards the authority told him to remove the jumps and bumps and leave the rural valley how it was before.

Mr Dixon has now submitted an application to the council to retain the earthworks.

The authority is due to make a decision shortly after the New Year.