THE 2013 motorcycle racing season kicks off at East Fortune this weekend, when the Melville Club hosts two rounds of the SACU Scottish Championships.

The programme, with good grids, features some of Scotland's best motorbike and sidecar racers, including previous Scottish champion Torquil Paterson, Roy Houston, Andrew Tasker and his sister Sammi and the top county sidecar team of Davie Wrinn and Riki Sandie.

A record number of newcomers, 40 in total, will make their race debut, including Torquil Paterson's 12-years-old son Lewis and the youngest newcomer, 11-years old Rory Skinner.

County riders to look out for include Tranent brothers Bryan and Grant Campbell, Mark Leonard, Roddy Hutchison, Andy Dunnet, Martin Harrison and female racers Kaye Hewins and Joanne Orr.

Also ones to watch are the youngest ever Scottish Super-Twins champion, Haddington's Paul McClung, as he moves to the highly competitive 600 Superstock class; and Gifford's Formula 125 champion, Lewis Rollo, who moves up to the Lightweights class, aboard his Aprilia 450RR motorcycle.

Classes include Superstock 600, Formula Melville, Classics, Pre-Injection, Sidecars and Formula 125. Racers under the age of 16 in the Aprilia 125 class will once again benefit from subsidised entry costs to encourage youngsters into the sport.

Keeping the spectators informed and amused with their extensive knowledge of motorcycle racing and anecdotes will be the resident commentary team of ex-sidecar racer, Mose Hutchinson and Ian Robertson, who will also interview riders in between the racing.

Bikes will be on the circuit for practice and qualifying from 9am on both days. Admission is �10 for adults and is free for senior citizens and accompanied under-16s, and the paddock is open for everyone.