FORMER TT rider Rodney Gooch is to develop the Castle Combe circuit’s motorcycling activity.

Gooch, who competed during the late 1960s and early 1970s, has been with the circuit for more than 22 years as sales and marketing director, but his appointment to the new part-time role will give the circuit a dedicated motorcycle specialist for the first time.

In 2014, the annual Castle Combe Circuit two-wheel race meeting will take place over two days on Saturday and Sunday, June 21-22, with Gooch’s brief to develop the event into one of the largest motorcycle race meetings outside the British Superbike Championship.

Gooch said: “It will be 10 years since we ran the Castle Combe Superbike Grand National, the biggest event in Castle Combe's history.

“I will be working hard to make the 2014 two-day event, run by the NG Road Racing Club, an event that riders want to come to compete in and spectators want to come to see and to grow the event into the largest race meeting outside of BSB.

“We are fortunate having a great range of motorcycle partners and I am already in discussion with others to further widen the motorcycle activities at the circuit."

The circuit was probably the first to organise directly-run motorcycle track days almost 20 years ago and have also developed rider safety training days, BikeSafe and the Castle Combe Track Day event in April.

MORE SPORTS NEWS & PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES