It isn’t often that you can convince a whole family to take part in a sport together, and it is even more unlikely that you would be able to do so on a wet Sunday afternoon in the middle of nowhere.

But although motocross is no ordinary sport, it is one that is gaining popularity pretty quickly, and whole families do take part.

If you have lived in the area for any length of time then it’s likely that you’ve taken part in motocross, or at least gone along to watch it.

I hadn’t been for a while, but as soon as I got into the main field and heard the buzz of two stroke engines I had a big smile on my face.

For those of you who didn’t grow up watching Kick Start, here’s what the sport entails.

Motorcyclists from all over the country take part in pre-arranged ‘meets’ which are usually run by a club in the area.

Routes across fields are prepared and maintained by the clubs, and will usually feature jumps, tight corners, and other features to challenge the riders - it’s not for the faint-hearted, and it takes a lot of practise to make it look as easy as some of the riders manage to.

Motocross bikes are much more lightweight and agile, than their 4-cylinder big cousins, and the familiar pitch of the two-stoker engines is music to anyone who grew up in the country’s ears.

Organised events such as the one I went to on Frocester Hill have to follow strict guidelines about noise pollution, which is why I can’t hear a whisper when I’m on the hill approaching the track.

While I was enjoying the event, with a cup of tea and a burger from the on-site van, and a liberal splattering of mud from the nearby racers I chatted to Thornbury MX organiser Lawson Benjamin to find out why the sport is so popular.

“Well that’s simple, it’s a thrill you can’t get from sitting in front of a computer or watching something on a screen,” he explained. “We get generations of families taking part - it’s not to say that there isn’t a danger - there is - but it’s the same that you get from horse riding, or snow boarding.”

Just a quick look at the dozens of riders waiting to take part shows the range of people - from the youngest aged four yours old, to others who I suspect are closer to retirement age.

They’re having the best time - and so am I.

To find out more visit thornburymx.co.uk