THOUSANDS of bikers preparing to arrive in the region for the tenth round of the British Superbike Championships have been warned to slow down and stay safe.

The championships are being held at Croft racing circuit, near Darlington, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Police officers and council officials have teamed up to warn motorcyclists arriving to watch the action that they are welcome, as long as they ride within the law.

In the past five years there have been 93 fatal accidents involving motorcyclists in North Yorkshire - almost the equivalent of two full single-decker buses crashing and killing everyone on board.

So far this year, 11 people have lost their lives. The latest fatality came on Sunday of last week, when 39-year-old York man died after an accident on the B1222.

North Yorkshire road policing inspector Chris Charlton said: "We need to emphasise the damage that these machines can do to people and the damage that they can do to the people that they leave behind.

"We are very conscious that what we do not want to do is alienate ourselves from the biking community.

"At the end of the day we want to welcome motorcyclists to North Yorkshire, but that comes with a warning that you ride within the law or we will take very firm and decisive action."

David Lindsay, from North Yorkshire County Council's road policing group, said: "We just want to tell the thousands of bikers who'll be coming to Croft that they are very welcome, and we look forward to seeing them here, but to stay safe at the same time."

The county council and the police launched a joint campaign four months ago to reduce the number of bikers killed and seriously injured on North Yorkshire's roads.

They are running a strict enforcement regime and are fast tracking the worst speed offenders through the courts.

Biker Dave Stavenau, who works in the council's road safety department, said he believed the message was getting across.

"People are starting to realise that they are not invincible," he said.