THE Portland Motocross Club is hosting their biggest event of the year across the weekend with the first round of the Junior State Titles hitting the Heywood Sports Park.

Over 350 junior riders have entered the event with the best talents in the state converging on Heywood.

At least four local riders are expected to hit the track including River Hollis, Ryder Trickey, Banjo Watt and Jet Bennett.

It has been a huge task for the club to prepare the track and area for the amount of riders but they’re confident in what they can produced across the weekend.

“Given the weather leading up to Christmas it has been a bit of a challenge to get the track back to where it was but the work is paying off,” club president Leigh Watt said.

“Leading into the weekend a lot of people have been working on it and we’re feeling pretty positive with where it is at.

“The committee has been really good and we’ve had a lot of people put their hands up to help out and local sponsors have been really supportive.”

The action kicks off tomorrow at 8.30am and will continue through to 3pm with more racing happening on Sunday as well.

Watt said the addition of the titles with their recent ride park days and pit bike under lights event is building plenty of momentum at the club.

“We put our hands up to host this event with Motocross Victoria after our last one was quite successful and it’s good to know the track and facilities are up to specifications,” he said.

“We’ve been trying to bring in new younger people to the club so we’ve worked on having a few ride park days – with insurances riders can’t get on the track without an organised event so that’s where the ride park days are really good. It’s lesser cost, attracts more people and the pressure isn’t as much as well compared to full on racing.

“We’ve also got the junior track there now which has been there for a few years but that’s been done up and it’s a great place for younger kids new to the sport to have a go and then they can transfer over to the bigger track when they’re more comfortable.”

Riders from seven years of age up to 18-years-old will be competing throughout tomorrow and Sunday.