Getting things underway this weekend (April 4/5th) is the Newcastle-based North East Motorcycle Racing Club who descend on the 2.127 mile track for the first rounds of their championships and with a host of Scots coming down over the border to challenge the local riders, the action is guaranteed to be fierce.


Also, a number of top riders may be tempted to turn out for some last minute testing given the British Superbike Championship gets underway the following weekend at Brands Hatch so it could well be that there are some star names in the results!


On Easter Monday (13th), it's the turn of the opening round of the 2009 SBD Motorsport MSA Sprint Championship which sees another near-capacity entry being assembled by Darlington & DMC.


Included in the 120-strong entry list are a number of local drivers including Pickhill's Tracey Taylor-West in action in a Lotus Elise, Sunderland's Jon Olds in his venerable VW Golf and the 1600cc Westfield shared by Darlington duo Mark Leybourne and Andrea Woodhouse.


Incorporating no less than seven regional as well as national championships, there are all types of cars in action ranging from the 4000cc Pilbeam and other single-seater specials right the way through to such cars as an RS200, a Renault 5 GT Turbo and an Audi TTV8, as well as the usual fleet of Morgans, Westfields Porsches and TVRs.


At both meetings, practice starts at 9.30am and admission will be £10 per person, per day with accompanied children under 15 admitted FREE and there will be free admission to the Paddock areas also.


For Further information contact Croft Circuit 01325 721815 or visit the website www.croftcircuit.co.uk.


ADVANCE TICKET SALE INFORMATION


With big race meetings for both bikes and cars scheduled for the season at Croft, race fans can pre-purchase tickets in advance and as well as guaranteeing entry, they offer a huge saving on race day prices.


The popular British Superbike Championship makes a return visit to Croft over the weekend of September 11/12/13th and with close racing and big crowds again expected, demand for tickets is sure to be high so pre-booking is recommended. Advance adult tickets (available to 28th August) cost £6 (Friday), £12 (Saturday), £23 (Sunday) and £32 (weekend).


The Hi-Q MSA British Touring Car Championship again visits Yorkshire's only permanent race track over the weekend of June 13/14th and with capacity grids and a host of top line supporting races, is one of the must see events of the summer. Advance adult tickets (available up to 29th May) cost £12 (Saturday), £23 (Sunday) and £32 (weekend) and strictly limited Grandstand tickets are on sale at just £7 each.


As with all Croft events, all accompanied children aged 15 and under are admitted FREE.


More details can be found along with booking details at www.croftcircuit.co.uk or by calling the ticket hotline on 01325 721815.