Cops target Croft fans

North Yorkshire police are also warning of a potentially dangerous mix of traffic this Sunday evening – horse-drawn caravans bikes on the ride home from Croft.

Sunday evening sees the end of Appleby Horse Fair, when scores of travellers’ caravans will be heading home. A great many will be heading south.

At the same time around 25,000 spectators will be making their way home after the last British Superbikes meeting at Croft. Many will be heading north.

“I want to alert riders that as they go home on Sunday they will be sharing the road with an oncoming group of slow-moving vehicles, which may well be followed by impatient motorists pulling out to overtake,” said Road Policing Sergeant John Lumbard.

Police from four forces have ‘nothing better to do’ this coming weekend than target you on your way to the British Superbike round at Croft.

It’s a repeat of last year’s Croft clampdown – which resulted in praise from the police after just one serious injury accident among 25,000 riders heading to and from the racing.

North Yorks cops will be joined by officers from Durham, Cleveland and Cumbria on the main routes to and from the circuit. Officers from other forces will be helping at a“bike safety village” at Croft, offering advice, tips and advanced riding guidance.

“Last year was great for both police and visitors,” said Assistant Chief Constable David Collins. “Our aim is to match that.”

Marked and unmarked police bikes and cars, roadside speed checks and extra patrols will be used – backed in North Yorkshire with the county force’s get-tough fast-track policy, which can cost ‘extreme speeders’ their licences within days of being caught.

The hard-line policy resulted in a big fall in motorcycle casualties last year. Mr Collins said: “We had criticism from some who felt we were picking on motorcyclists, but by the end of the year no-one could argue with a halving of rider casualties. The tough line works.

Mr Collins said: “Let me spell out our stance one more time – we welcome motorcyclists to North Yorkshire. We want them to enjoy our countryside, our superb riding roads, and our traditional warm welcome. We don’t welcome fools who think racetrack speeds are for the roads. We don’t welcome show-offs who spoil other people’s enjoyment of the county. And we go to some lengths to catch such people, with a very high success rate.”

Automatic Number Plate Recognition units will be deployed. As well as identifying any stolen machines that come by they can also pick out offenders, such as disqualified riders or those with no insurance.

* Durham Police are warning that the A66M, together with the A66 (from the A66M to Neasham Road Roundabout), and the A167 from Blands Corner Roundabout through Croft to West Lane can be expected to be severely congested between 7am and 12noon and 4-7pm on Sunday. Local residents are advised to plan their journeys accordingly.