Close Menu
  • Bayside News Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Monday, June 2
Facebook X (Twitter)
Bayside News
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Police investigate Bonbeach collision
Breaking News
Bayside News
Home»News»Club faces end of track
News

Club faces end of track

Neil WalkerBy Neil Walker4 May 2015Updated:11 May 2015No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email
Track tragedy - FRANKSTON Motorcycle Club members Justin Stone (vice president), Anthony Ferguson (junior riders coordinator), Riley Fusco (junior member) and Ralph Ridley (club president) hope Frankston Council will reconsider its decision to end the club’s lease at the Frankston City Motorcycle Track in the wake of a fatality last month. Picture: Gary Sissons
Track tragedy – FRANKSTON Motorcycle Club members Justin Stone (vice president), Anthony Ferguson (junior riders coordinator), Riley Fusco (junior member) and Ralph Ridley (club president) hope Frankston Council will reconsider its decision to end the club’s lease at the Frankston City Motorcycle Track in the wake of a fatality last month. Picture: Gary Sissons

THE race is on to save the Frankston City Motorcycle Park as an affordable venue for motocross riders after Frankston Council decided not to renew its lease with the Frankston Motorcycle Club in the wake of a fatality at the Seaford track last month.

A 20-year-old man died after a collision with a fellow motocross rider and council asked the club to close the Seaford facilities in the short term (‘Fatality closes motorcycle track’, The Times 13/4/15).

Last Friday council issued a statement headed “Safety first priority at Frankston Motorcycle Park” and advised the Frankston Motorcycle Club’s tenancy would end on 28 May.

“Council resolved to take action to ensure the safety and management of the facilities, to prevent any future tragedies, such as the death of a recreational motorcyclist earlier this month,” deputy mayor Cr Glenn Aitken said in the statement.

Council has asked Motorcycling Victoria to manage the venue as a “recreational track” for 12 months which would see the basic and intermediate, although not expert, tracks reopen until council, Motorcycling Victoria and the Frankston Motorcycle Club can agree a long-term management plan for the motorcycle park.

Motorcycle club members and track users are worried fees to use the track will be too expensive for many Frankston motocross riders if MV takes over the management of the venue.

Locked up: Frankston City Motorcycle Park closed until further notice.
Locked up: Frankston City Motorcycle Park closed until further notice.

The Frankston Motorcycle Club and its committee are staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers.

Malinda Lloyd launched an online petition late last week urging council to reopen the motorcycle park under the supervision of the volunteers.

The gopetition.com petition has already gained more than 600 signatures.     

Mrs Lloyd, whose husband and son regularly use the track, said many families will not be able to afford to pay higher fees to ride at Seaford. She also believes council may “kick out” the club from the premises despite decades of hard work and personal financial contributions by volunteers.

An annual membership for families currently costs $100 per year plus $10-$25 per day to ride at the track.

“The environment there is fantastic. I’ve got a three and a ten year old and they love it even just to go down and watch.”

Mrs Lloyd said the club is self-sufficient and not reliant on council funding.

“The response to the petition has been really supportive. Everyone just wants that club reopened under the volunteer scheme … most of them are families who ride together.”

Mrs Lloyd said the track was opened in 1980 and she fears some motocross riders will take to public parks and streets if they are unable to afford to ride at the Seaford venue.

In its statement Frankston Council said Motorcycling Victoria usually oversee event and competition venues but have agreed “to work with council to ensure the track meets the Frankston community’s recreational needs and all safety standards”.

A transitional committee, chaired by Cr Aitken, including Cr Colin Hampton, a MV representative, council officers and motorcycling industry experts will be established to discuss the long-term future of the motorcycle park.

“Frankston Council is dedicated to ensuring and maintaining that its recreational facilities are safe in accordance with regulatory standards,” Cr Aitken said.

Council hoped the track can be reopened soon.

Frankston City Motorcycle Club president Ralph Ridley said the club has been “open and transparent” with council and has met with councillors and officers to discuss the future of the track.

“First and foremost it’s a massive tragedy and a loss to family, friends and everyone down there … and it’s affected everyone,” he said.

WorkSafe investigated the fatal collision but passed the investigation to police since the track is on public land.

The Times understands the police investigation has not concluded. Investigating officers were unavailable to give an update before publication.

First published in the Frankston Times – 4 May 2015

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Neil Walker

Related Posts

Police find alleged explosives

2 June 2025

Award for helping to feed the hungry

28 May 2025

Cash splash on sports projects

28 May 2025
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click Here to Read

29 April 2025
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click Here to Read

1 May 2025
Property of the Week

34 Pine Hill Drive, Frankston

21 March 2025
Council Watch

Stood down councillor not subject to code of conduct

23 April 2025

Cash bounty to catch vandals

8 April 2025
100 Years Ago this Week

Electricity Charges – Frankston And Mornington Combine

27 May 2025
Interviews

Writing racecourse history

6 February 2024
Contact

Street: 1/15 Wallis Drive, Hastings, 3915
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915

Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Police investigate Bonbeach collision
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook X (Twitter)
© 2025 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.