CROFT CIRCUIT’S 2019 season gets underway this weekend as the North-East Motor Cycle Racing Club stage the opening round of their popular championship series.

A capacity field has been confirmed for the various classes, with a healthy Scottish contingent set to take on the best of the English riders.

The opening round of the three-round NEMCRC series will incorporate three major trophies, with the prestigious Ken Redfern Trophy, won last year for a third time by Tyneside’s Barry Teasdale, awarded to the overall winner of the open class.

The victor in the F600 class will lift the Laird of Croft Trophy, which James Cowton won in 2018 before tragically losing his life later in the season.

On three wheels, Durham’s Lee Crawford and Scott Hardie lifted the Mac Hobson Trophy for a second year in succession 12 months ago.

There are classes for GP125, classics, post classics, lightweight twins, pre-injection 600 and open, Thunderbikes, Formula Junior and scooters, as well as the usual popular categories for FSRA F2 and open sidecars, 600cc, 400cc and unlimited open class bikes.

Practice gets underway at 9am on Saturday (March 23) and 12.05pm on Sunday (March 24), with two races per class each day.

Adult admission is £12 on both days in advance, or £15 on the day, with accompanied children aged 15 and under admitted free on both days. A weekend ticket costs £20 in advance or £27 on the gate, and there is also free car parking and paddock access.