It's well known for cricket and football but next weekend Wellington Oval will take on a new sport - motocross.

St. George's Cricket Club will host the 2002 Bermuda Motocross Open featuring some of the world's top motocross riders in a two-day spectacle of competition racing and stunts. About 50 local riders are also scheduled to participate in the event being organised by local company Bluegrass Management.

"We are trying to bring some excitement back to motocross sport in Bermuda. We're bringing down 40 pro riders all of whom are in the top 100 in the world and a few of whom are in the top 10 in the world," said Bluegrass president Mike Jones.

"We are building a supercross track on St. George's Cricket Club field. It will be the first time Bermuda has ever experienced anything of this magnitude.

"It's always been a Coney Island thing where you see a person ride past and then you wait until they come around again but you don't know who passed who. Next week, you will be able to see everything at once."

Spectators will see action in the 80cc, 125cc and 250cc classes with riders such as Canada's supercross champion Jean Sebastien Roy, world top-five freestyle specialist "Mad" Mike Jones (not the organiser) and Kyle Lewis, another big name in the sport, slated to take part.

For diversity, a few ATVs (all-terrain vehicles) will also be on show.

Canada's top motocross-track builder, Chris Arel, of Global Sports Promotions has been contracted to transform Wellington Oval, using among other things 500 truck-loads of dirt and six old buses which will be part of the jumps. Work on setting up the track is scheduled to start next Tuesday.

Three charities will benefit from the venture in which Jones is partnered by David Greene. The Bermuda Physically Handicapped Association (BPHA), the Matilda Smith Williams Home and Bermuda Autism Support and Education (BASE) will all receive donations from the proceeds.

The first annual Bermuda Motocross Open takes place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. next Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $25 for children 12-and-under and $45 for adults in advance or $50 at the gate.

In addition to the motocross promotion, Bluegrass Management are sponsoring one of the Island's pro riders, Robbie Smith.

"In keeping with what we're trying to do in the sport, we're going to be his local sponsor. We have bought him a brand-new bike and all his outfit and gear and he will be riding for Bluegrass for the next couple years," said Jones, adding that Smith will be among the local riders next weekend.