Sport
17 July, 2024
Mount Isa Dirt Bike Club riders keen to test out new-look track
It's been nine months since local riders used the Jubilee Park motocross track.
Members of the Mount Isa Dirt Bike Club are raring to go ahead of Sunday’s grand opening of their refurbished track.
President Mick McConachy had to do his best to keep his sons from taking a hot lap on Monday as they came out to promote the club’s Come and Try Day and Ride Park event.
“We haven’t really raced on the track since about October last year,” he told North West Weekly.
“Some of us travel out for events – we have just gotten back from a weekend of racing in Townsville – but many of our members only ride locally.”
The president said the Jubilee Park track, located across the road from the Mount Isa Airport, had been completely re-designed and built from scratch.
“We got a professional designer in from Melbourne and we’ve just had it signed off to race on,” said McConachy.
“It was a big job and we couldn’t have done it without the support of the many, many local businesses who donated equipment and labour to make it happen.
“We shifted the grandstand and there was a huge effort over a three-week period to make it all happen.”
There are about 40 active riders in the Mount Isa Dirt Bike Club, McConachy said, although he and the committee want that number to grow.
On Sunday morning, the club is holding a Come and Try Day to encourage new members to sign up or take an interest in the sport.
“Not everyone is interested in rugby league or soccer or rodeo,” he said.
“Motocross is a very controlled sport. A lot of people think of motorbikes as being dangerous, but when you are riding on a track like this, it is a controlled environment.
“You’ve got marshalls, you’ve got stewards, you’ve got flaggers, you’ve got first aid ... there is a lot of support for the riders.
“It’s much safer than riding in the bush.”
The gates at Jubilee Park will open at 7am on Sunday for sign-on, while riders will take to the track around 8am.
Following the Come and Try event, club members will then get access to the track for a Ride Park session.
“If you’ve got a bike and the safety gear, please come down and check it out,” McConachy said.
“But even if you don’t, but are just interested in perhaps getting into the sport, we encourage you to come down and have a look and see what we are about.”
The Come and Try event is free, while cold drinks and a barbecue will also be available.