2008 looks set to be a busy year for the team at UKBikePark near Blandford, Dorset. They’re building new DH tracks, a new club hut and a 300m 4X course, and working on improved uplifts. Plus it’ll be the second year of DH racing at the freeride/DH park and for 2008 Royal Racing is stepping in as series sponsors for the six-race summer series, with additional support from local bike shop Torico.

We certainly like the sound of the race format, with weekends including an uplift day on Saturday, 4X racing Saturday night and DH racing on Sunday – “It’s like old school racing used to be, without the XC,” as UKBikePark puts it. Peripheral attractions will include minibike racing, hog roast, DJs, mini ramps and, splendidly, home-made cakes. Torico will be there with spares and bits and there’ll be demo bikes from Iron Horse, Lapierre and Commencal.

You can pick and choose which events to take part in – note that your DH entry includes uplifted practice on Sunday morning. There’s camping on-site if you want to make a weekend of it (and it sounds well worth doing so). The dates are:

• 12/13 April
  10/11 May

• 31 May/1 June
• 12/13 July
• 6/7 September
• 4/5 October

Full details (including on-line entry) at www.ukbikepark.com or call Ben at Torico on 01258 473770.