ANGRY off-road motorcyclists are demanding that the Government rethinks a policy that they say could destroy their sport.

Trial bike riders across the North-East and North Yorkshire are being urged to write to their MPs, after Thursday's elections, in protest at the regulations.

The row has erupted after the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) changed the way landowners receive subsidies.

Under the new Single Payment Scheme of the Common Agricultural Policy, farmland used for motorsport does not qualify for subsidy payments.

Many trial organisers have been forced to cancel their events so farmers will not miss out on the extra cash.

Richmond and District Motorcycle Club, in North Yorkshire, last week decided to call off all of its May and June events.

Members fear the renowned Scott Trial, in October, held in the Yorkshire Dales since 1914, will also be at risk.

Club secretary Angela Sunter, of Richmond, North Yorkshire, said it could be forced to fold if the regulations were not changed.

"We are urging our members to write to their local MP," said Mrs Sunter.

"We are annoyed, as we don't know where we stand. It's not as if we're damaging the farmland."

Meanwhile, nine-year-old trials rider Robert Waite, of Hurworth, near Darlington, has written to Prime Minister Tony Blair urging him to intervene. In his letter, he wrote: "I am really scared of you and your government, because you are putting at risk the sport I love, trials riding, by passing a Defra law."

His mother, Julie, said: "Robert would gladly give up school to go trialing.

"I don't think they've thought this through and how it affects people's lives."

Defra officials, however, told The Northern Echo that the Scott Trial was not at risk.

A spokesman said farmers should simply not claim subsidy for the land used for motorsport.

However, Scott Trial clerk of the course John Fraser said the comment highlighted the Government department's "total lack of understanding of the situation".

He said: "The route is 75 miles and crosses about 50 different landowners' properties for one day only, which does not stop the normal agricultural use of the land.

"The Scott Trial cannot ask the landowners to forego their year's payment for the land for one day's unpaid use."