OVER 300 dirtbike riders took to the track last Saturday in the 2023 Myrtleford Alpine Rally, traversing through bush trails in Stanley, Murmungee and Gapsted.

Alpine Rally president Mat Dwyer said the event went smoothly, they received positive feedback from rally riders and there were no injuries.

“There’s normally a few casualties, but this year we didn’t have any, so that’s a bonus,” he said.

He said weather for the event had been almost perfect, though they would have liked a little rain in the prior week to settle the dust.

Between 9-9:30am riders queued at the track start at Gapsted Recreation Reserve, and with the roar of engines, groups would set off when indicated by a rally official.

Dwyer said the event had 264 entrants, while 50 sweep riders also made sure groups stayed together and assisted with any problems during the ride.

The track took riders in a 75km loop through state forest and privately-owned land, largely heading northward until it reached North Dingle track east of Stanley, then the track looped back on a winding southward trajectory.

The loop also had three short cut tracks cutting through the middle.

Afterwards many riders returned to the Ablett Pavilion for dinner, which was also a success, according to Dwyer.

“The night back at the footy club was probably the best one we’ve had yet,” he said.

On the night, rally organisers also held a charity auction of various goods, including a tool box, chainsaw and fridge.

Dwyer said figures for the charity auction have yet to be calculated and they will announce in coming weeks the beneficiary of the auction.

He thanked the event sponsors and the two landowners who let them make tracks through their land.

Yarrawonga resident Max Williams rode the full loop in the rally and said he particularly enjoyed the track.

“It was good fun, a nice track, and it was obvious a fair bit of preparation went into it,” he said.

Williams said he has been riding motorbikes since he was three or four years old, and now he is a motor mechanic.

“I just live and breathe motorbikes,” he said.

“I've been trying to find a lot more events to do because that's the sort of riding I want to do.”