AUSTRALIA'S best female motocross riders will be in Horsham for the Australian Women's MX Championships starting tomorrow.
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Horsham Motorcycle Club will host the championships which are returning after a one-year hiatus plus an inaugural MX Amateurs event across the weekend.
Club president Kenny Watts said hosting both events meant it would be a big weekend for the club.
"We've got 23 women competing and that's riders from every part of Australia, including the ACT," he said.
"We're also running the MX Amateurs for the first time ever.
"It's something the club's created to give those riders more opportunity.
"Unless you race the nationals, there's nothing above the state level, so these kids are coming in to race for a wildcard entry to the Wonthaggi round of the MX Nationals."
Watts said Horsham rider Tamika Edwards would put her skills to the test in the women's championship, while riders from Victoria and South Australia had signed up for the amateur event.
He said numbers were not quite as high as hoped for the amateur event, but the standard of racing would still be competitive.
"Unfortunately the numbers aren't what we expected just yet," he said.
"We're probably down 50 per cent on where we thought we would be."
However, Watts said rain over the past few days would help get the Horsham club's track in pristine condition.
"The rain's perfect, it's come at the right time for us and the Wimmera people," he said.
"It will soak in and the track will be perfect for the weekend."
Watts also said there would be some good racing in the club's supporting events, highlighting Matt Baker, Adam Rabone and Jason Thomas as three to look out for.
Support classes will include all grade juniors and over-35 veterans.
Watts said he hoped the club would attract from 500 to 600 people over the course of the weekend and encouraged people to attend.
"Every time you run something new there's a little bit of doubt, but hopefully if it goes well, then next year this can get bigger and better," he said.
"Hopefully people interested in women's racing will come down and have a look.
"We're hoping this will be a good weekend."
The club has a busy month ahead as it prepares for a Sidecar Spectacular on April 26 and 27 and its Academy of Motocross for junior riders on May 18.
Racing starts at 9am tomorrow and Sunday.
Entry is free.
