Scramble for tourists

ALDERNEY'S tourism offering for motorbike enthusiasts is to get another boost when the island's scrambling track is revamped.

Arrangements with the States to reopen rough land off Braye for scrambling were agreed four years ago, when Tony Le Blanc set up the Alderney Motorcycle Club.

Riders had used the spot to practise scrambling on bikes for 40 years, but after advice from insurers, Alderney States decided it could no longer take the risk of an accident occurring.

It was reopened in a safer, more professional guise and two young riders, Daniel Robinson and Dean Chandler, have since come first and second in the Guernsey Motocross Championship.

Now Alderney will be able to offer Guernsey riders the chance to get some motocross experience across the water with its improved track.

Approval having been granted by the Estates & Services Committee, the AMC is to sink tyres into the ground to create jumps and berms, scrape the course flat in places, cut back brambles and generally make it safer and more challenging for riders.

First-aiders will be on hand.

Riders from all over the Bailiwick will be able to come to Alderney to use it. All they need in order to be covered by the club's insurance is AMC membership, costing just £10 per year.

The AMC's Sally Chandler said: 'A number of Guernsey riders have asked if they can come over and use our track and most would bring wives or girlfriends along, so it would be way of getting more tourists to the island. If the Guernsey riders could come over and practise under our track rules, it would benefit not only our local riders but also bring more people to the island, which can only be good news for both them and us.'

Later this month, Alderney's second Rock Island Trials will take place. Discussions are currently under way to stage another motorcycle event in October.