POLICE will be out in force this weekend in an effort to ensure the safety of thousands of motorcyclists.

Hordes of bikers are expected to converge on North Yorkshire for the latest round of the British Superbikes Championship at Croft.

And officers from six different forces will be on the roads in an attempt to prevent the county’s toll of motorcycle deaths rising any higher.

The county has some of the most popular motorcycling roads in Britain but over the last ten years they have claimed the lives of some 182 bikers.

At the weekend officers from North Yorkshire, County Durham, Cleveland, Cumbria, South Yorkshire and Humberside will be patrolling routes to and from the circuit.

Before they even set off, bikers are being urged to take a look at the special website roadwise.co.uk/bikers hosted by the 95 Alive road safety partnership - which will also have a team at Croft with advice on how to improve skills.

Road safety officer Fiona Ancell said: “Our new Bikers Guide shows five routes across the county on which riders consistently come to grief.

“We ask riders to check out the information on our website about where crashes have happened and why.”

Head of strategic road policing Inspector Dave Brown added: “We are expecting thousands of bikers to attend the championships and we want to make sure they arrive at Croft safely and also arrive home in the same condition they left.

“Twenty of their fellow motorcycle enthusiasts died on North Yorkshire's roads last year. Three quarters of those deaths were down to rider error. Neither us nor their families want a repeat of that dreadful toll.”