This year’s Weston Beach Race in England promises to be bigger and better than ever, with a packed programme of on and off track events to keep everyone entertained throughout the whole three days.

The event gets underway today with a full programme of mini-bike racing. A Weston welcome party will take place in the afternoon with a bar, live music and karaoke, all hosted by “Mr. Beach Race” himself, Gareth Hockey.

The event has in the past attracted a Who’s Who of dirt biking talent.

Double winner David Knight took the holeshot at the Weston Beach Race last year but, after a three-hour battle, 10-time motocross world champion Stefan Everts took the win. It was the Belgian MXer’s second. Scotland’s Shaun Simpson was runner-up on his Weston debut in 2008.

New Zealand’s Josh Coppins finished runner-up at the big annual event in 2007, close behind MX1 GP rival Steve Ramon, while Britain’s Brad Anderson was third.

Racing proper this time around kicks off tomorrow with the youth quad and solo races, before the adults take to the infamous Weston dunes course for the combined quad and sidecar showdown. Once the inevitable carnage has been cleared from the course after the race, Flyin’ Ryan Griffiths will make an attempt on the world record for the longest jump on a motorcycle.

Hockey will once again host a party on the Saturday once all the on track action has finished for the day, with live bands and exclusive drinks promotions keeping everyone entertained, and well lubricated, into the evening.

The youth contingent gets Sunday underway with the 85cc race, and then the Red Bull Matadors air display team will perform ahead of the main, three-hour Adult solo race, which will see the likes of World MX2 star Simpson and newly crowned British MX1 champion Anderson taking on all-comers – all 1000 of them.

Last year’s Weston Beach Race saw more than 100,000 people enjoying a fantastic family weekend on the seafront at Weston-super-Mare, and this year’s event promises even more on the entertainment front.

Here’s some video action from 2007, the year Coppins finished runner-up.