RIDERS, start your engines, because the Myrtleford Alpine Rally is getting ready to make a grand return in 2023 after three years of no dirt bike action.

After COVID restrictions and complications prevented the event from running from 2020–2022, the committee have announced they are back together and planning the 2023 instalment for later this year.

The rally committee, with president Matt Dwyer, vice president Jake Rouse, will partner with the Myrtleford Alpine Saints Football Netball Club to deliver various assistances such as volunteers, catering, administrative duties and use of facilities.

The most recent event, held back in 2019, attracted some 300–plus riders to town.

Dwyer said after years without the event, the 2023 version of the rally is sure to be a massive boon for the town.

"We live in the best part of Australia for motorbike riding so people love coming here to do it," he said.

"It really is a major event for the town – everyone stays on Saturday night and most stay on Friday.

"Everywhere's full, we got back to the footy club for a little bit after it to have dinner, then there's 200 people in at the pub.

"For everyone, it's a massive thing.

"This year I think we'll just try and get everyone back involved, get it back running and put all of the money back into the community.

"The footy club gets a bit of it, they're in on it with us, and we'll give it back to our sponsors and things like that.

"We just want to make sure we get all the riders, and I think everybody's already excited about it. "

While a firm date has not yet been set, Dwyer and the committee are confident weather won't impact too much on proceedings like it has in the past.

"DELWP (DEECA) own the land, so they're the ones who set the dates," he said.

"In the 2019 event, we got torrential rain and snow, and while I wouldn't say we damaged the bush, we made a bit of a mess as you could imagine with 200–300 bikes.

"So now they're a bit sceptical of the weather but it's something you can't pick, it can rain in August – that's something that we've got to work out with them.

"It'll definitely happen, but I'm not sure when we'll get a date."

For the latest information, be sure to keep an eye on the Myrtleford Alpine Rally Official Facebook page.