Trespassing and an alleged altercation with a senior track supervisor have resulted in the Ministry of Sport prohibiting Bermuda Motocross Club (BMC) members from using the new track facility at Southside, can reveal.

While both parties remained tight-lipped amid discussions aimed at resolving the dispute, reliable sources confirmed yesterday that at least five members had been reported for using the facility ?illegally? and, when confronted by the track supervisor are alleged to have retaliated by ?pushing? him to the ground.

The new motocross facility is to replace the track at nearby Coney Island and was officially opened to BMC riders last December.

However, the Ministry yesterday released an official statement notifying members that the track would be closed until the matter was resolved.

?The Ministry of Community Affairs and Sport wants to resolve outstanding issues with the Bermuda Motocross Club before it gives the club the all-clear for practice at the Apron Five track at Southside,? the statement began.

While Ministry officials say they sympathise with ?anxious? BMC members, they remain adamant that practice at the facility will not resume until matters are cleared up.

?The Ministry is working diligently to resolve the issues and hopes to meet again with BMC executives at the earliest opportunity,? the press release added.

When contacted, Director of Youth and Sport Brenton Roberts stated: ?I don?t want to go into details any further than that because we have ongoing meetings with them (BMC executives) and we would like to resolve those matters in house.?

In addition to the ongoing dispute, Roberts revealed the facility had recently undergone ?minor adjustments?.

?We had to do some adjustments to the track and they (BMC) have some commitments to fulfil before they are allowed back on the track,? he said.

According to Roberts, ?unsafe? substances in the track dirt had made the facility hazardous while some of the curves were ?too close? to each other.

But as soon as ?these outstanding? matters are resolved BMC members will be allowed to resume use of the facility, Roberts assured.

Meanwhile, it was learned yesterday that a leading Canadian track consultant had been ?threatened? when the facility was under construction last year.

BMC secretary Jonathan Trott did not return calls to yesterday.