BERMUDA'S motocross season is shaping up to be one of the best ever with a string of veteran riders coming out of retirement.

Last season's champ Zeko Majors will face a tough fight for his 125 cc crown against Aaron Cannonier while Robbie Smith, who hasn't been seen since the Coney Island days, is due to make a come-back.

They will be testing their skills on a revamped track at Southside which has hosted racing for the last three years.

Organiser Shawn Mitchell said: "I don't what it is . . . maybe they are getting back to their first love ¿ motocross."

Numbers are looking good this season with many of last year's novice class likely to move up to expert class, including novice champion Shakir Smith along with Jonte Smith, Tony Grant and Chad Sutherland.

Mitchell believes the strength of the sport will be seen when US riders come over for their festive visit and take on the locals on Boxing Day and New Year's Day.

"They will have a few surprises this year ¿ I think we can hold them off."

There's been a bigger influx of 50 cc riders this season judging from preparation meetings although a date for the start of the season has yet to be set.

A meeting was due to be held last night with a season opener at noon on Sunday looking likely for the club which boasts more than 100 riders.

Mitchell is excited about the new track. "We have new obstacles and new jumps." There is also a vets class as the club has expanded its categories of riders.

The sport is also very healthy at the junior level with Mitchell's young sons picking up some of the honours last year with son Senoj winning in the 4-6-year-old chain class and Jyire winning the seven to eight-year-old 50 class and seven-to-nine 65 class.

Jyire has proved a sensation abroad too, winning in the 50 cc class in July in the Grand Nationals in Ponco City, Oklahoma and coming second in the 65 class, in the culmination of an event which had seen riders from all over the United States enter.

Now nine, Jyire has dreams of going pro when he is 16 and his example has seen more young riders come to the fore.

Their proud dad revealed Jyire, who has been racing abroad since was four, and Senoj were offered a sponsorship deal by an American garage which would have been worth $20,000 in bikes and equipment.

Mitchell said: "That was even before Jayire had won but was going into the final round."

And they were impressed that Senoj had reached the national finals in the four-to-six year-old category at age just five when the other competitors were in the top tier of their age group.

The feat of the Mitchells, from Devonshire, is even more impressive considering they were up against American kids who practice year round while the Mitchells only get to practices six months of the year.

It was a tempting offer of six bikes, gear and mechanical help and it would be a big saving for Mitchell who estimates he lashed out $10,000 on five trips to the States last year.

But taking the sponsorship would mean moving to the US full-time and riding a different brand of bike from the KTMs and Cobras they are used to.

"But at this point Jyire want him to have an average childhood because I have been told that kids over there race that's all they do, they eat, breathe and sleep the sport of motocross.

"At this point we are just not willing to sacrifice everything, he's too young."

He said Jayire plays football with Devonshire Colts and cricket for Warwick Academy.

"He really, really excels when he gets on that bike but he does love other sports which are team sports ¿ it's a good balance." But the trips to the US will continue next year. "I hope he can pick up a Championship in the 65 cc class."