RODNEY Fitzgerald was upbeat about the hopes for the Warwick and District Dirt Bike Club in 2011 after 100 riders turned up for a practice day on Sunday.

Due to damage to the western side of the track from flooding in the past three weeks the riders used a smaller circuit.

The riders parked their vehicles close to the ameni- ties due to the pit area in the south being a bit wet.

Fitzgerald, who is the club’s secretary, said the track was good despite the rain.

“We had riders from as far away as the Gold Coast,” Fitzgerald said.

The club has a little extra time to prepare for round one of the Shell Advance Series, as all rounds of the competition have been put back a month.

“Half the tracks to be used for rounds of the series have been under water in the floods,” Fitzgerald said.

Club president Andrew Williams said the new date was March 26-27, the same weekend as the Warwick Show.

“We can cater for 760 riders,” Williams said.

“On average each rider will bring two people to town.

“We tried to alter the date so as not to clash with the Warwick Show, but it is on the same weekend so accommodation will be at a premium.”

While the club’s bikers are back on the track, plenty of work needs to be done before the series meeting in March.

The club had some offers of concrete pipes to lay in a gully which washed out across the track in the two rainfall events in the past three weeks, but Fitzgerald is still hoping to receive more offers of concrete pipes.

He can be contacted on 0429 801 299.

Practice days are held each Sunday from 10am except for a break at Christmas and when club race meetings are being held.

There is also club practice from 2pm each Thursday.