The new Motorsport Park at Southside has received the green flag from a leading club official.

Vice-president of the Bermuda Motorcycle Racing Club Cyril Whitter has had a few spins on the smooth surface and says it's ideal for racing enthusiasts and is likely to attract more people to various branches of Bermuda's motorsports' community.

In fact, he anticipates a boost in the motorcycle association's membership as word spreads about their racing environs.

"A lot of members were waiting for this track and now it's open many of them are getting their bikes together and getting ready to come down there," said Whitter excited at the prospects

"As it becomes more popular and more people learn of its whereabouts, we expect a rush of membership from those who had been riding and stopped as well as from those interested in starting motorcycle racing now there is a facility built especially for it."

Last Sunday was the track's official test day and motorcycle racers and go-karters eagerly ventured to the long-awaited venue to rev their engines and ride.

"I had a really enjoyable first experience. I actually rode in the rain and the track felt good which was a surprise to me. It's great ? the condition of it, the layout, the design. I like it a lot.

"This track is very technical and it's going to be very competitive. It's a dream come true. All of us have been waiting for this for a long time. Motorcycle racers have not had a proper season since 2001.

"Go-karters have not had a season for a while as well. The motocross guys had the use of Coney Island but then that was taken away from them and we were all waiting on this to be completed."

All motorsports clubs will continue practising at Southside on weekends but no official racing will begin until all the protective barriers are erected.

"The track is safe but under race conditions it will be put to a more serious test so nobody wants to start racing until all the safety measures are put in place.

"We don't want to rush things so we are waiting until all the safety barriers that line the track are in place," explained Whitter, adding that only members of the associations are allowed to use the track.

However, the public is invited "to come and get a feel for what's going on".

The racing park consists of various sections with a straight track for karting and motorcycle racing and a separate area for motocross riders. The karters and motorcyclists interchange use of their straightaway in half-hour intervals.

"The karts go out and practice. Then, after half-hour is up, we go out on our motorcycles and we continue like that throughout the day."

Whitter assured there would be no conflict of interest in utilising the track because the karters and motorcyclists have different seasons with the latter's running from May to October and the karters' between October and April.

Whitter thanked the Sports Ministry for working to get Southside outfitted for those in the motorsports fraternity, stressing it will be highly treasured.

"We're really appreciative of their work in getting the facility up and running and we want to thank them for it."