Bathurst Showground could host long track motorcycling in the future

With harness racing trainers expected to cease using the venue next year, showground officials are hoping to attract long-term usage for the track.

Bathurst Showground land manager Andrew Fletcher said long track motorcycle racing has been discussed as an option, a sport that has previously been held at the venue as recently as three years ago.

"The trotters are due to leave here early next year. They'll be going out to the new trotting training ground, so we're keen to find a use for the arena and the stables long-term," he said.

ALSO MAKING NEWS:

"Long track racing has been spoken about. It has been run here before but the issue back then was the fence."

The exterior fence around the showground track is set to be replaced as a part of an almost $3 million upgrade, funded by the NSW Government, which will also see major upgrades to historic pavilions.

Mr Fletcher said if long track racing was to make a return or if the Bathurst Showground was to host any new events, he'd prefer it be long-term, rather than a one-off event.

"Motorbikes, rally cars, yes, we've had some interest and we are interested in running any kind of event out here," he said.

"What we really need is a long-term usage because one-off events are not going to replace continual use by the trotters. They use it every day, seven days a week."

The most recent time motorcycling occured at the venue was back in 2017.

On that occasion five years ago it was host to the Australian Long Track Masters, which featured more than 150 competitors across more than 10 categories of racing.

The funding announcement by the NSW Government last Monday was welcome news for the showground, especially as a number of events scheduled for 2020 didn't take place, such as the Bathurst Show.

"The showground has had a number of large events cancelled," he said.

"Sadly we had one this week, which was a fairly significant exposition to the Bathurst community."