Mattapoisett will be seeing a new event this year: “motocross”—a form of motorcycle racing held on enclosed, off-road circuits—at the town dump.

Resident Bruce Rocha Jr, a member of the non-profit Pilgrim Sands Trail Riders, spoke to the Board of Selectmen February 15 requesting one-day events in April and November—and got a “yes.”

“There’s a large track of land there—about 150 acres,” Rocha said. “The track would be roughly two to three miles long, using the natural terrain.”

The first event is scheduled for Sunday, April 1. The November date had not yet been established.

Rocha said the Board of the Health had already signed off on the idea.

Pilgrim Sands Trail Riders was established in 1974 and hosts several one-day motocross races a year. Rocha said most of the recent events have been in Freetown, and that it wasn’t unusual for these types of events to be held at landfills.

“We would like to make a donation to the town based on parking,” Rocha said. “There’s plenty of space there. And we get at least 100 vehicles each time for paid parking.”

He added that the group donates between $12,000 and $13,000 yearly to local charities.

“Being the father of a boy that did trail riding, one of the issues was the limited availability of places with events,” Rocha said. “It’s a good opportunity, and with it being a single day event twice a year, that’s a big plus.”

The Selectmen were on board with the request, pending a letter of support from the Board of Health and discussions with Police Chief Mary Lyons on handling traffic and medical needs.