The Australian Junior Motocross Championship will be held in Darwin in July

A relocated major motorsports event due to ’safety concerns’ will remain in the Territory following days of intense negotiations, the chief executive of a peak body says.

The looming Australian Junior Motocross Championship will stay in the Territory, just days after its relocation from Alice Springs due to “safety concerns”.

The annual event, which was due to return to the Red Centre for the first time since 1987 and attract up to 400 young riders, injecting “millions” into the local economy, was moved following the town’s recent issues with anti-social behaviour.

Motorcycling Australia Northern Territory (MANT) chief executive Cilla Thomas said there had been plenty of negotiations over the past few days to keep the event local, while three NT clubs had made submissions to host it.

It will now be held at Acacia Hills Motocross Club on July 11-16 with the event to run as originally promised.

“Acacica have a big, big undertaking to get it up in six months,” Thomas said.

“They’re already getting offers from local businesses to help out.”

There are around 200 registered junior motocross riders in the Territory. Picture: Supplied.

Thomas said the decision to move the event, made by MANT and the Alice Springs Motorcycle Club, was a tough one but had to be made following concerns from travelling competitors.

“It was quite a lot,” Thomas said of the number of reports.

“Especially after the things that had escalated in Alice.

“There was no confidence that these issues would be resolved within that six month period, especially after the Prime Minister had visited.

“It wasn’t just going to myself, it was going to the national body, and also on Facebook.”

She said the fact that local sporting competitions were continuing as normal was irrelevant.

“I know that local events going on down there, but they’re local,” he said.

“We’re talking about 300-400 juniors coming to town ... young families that are travelling.”

Alice Springs junior motocross riders Shayden Harris, Sharnee Muller, Will Totani, and Jaka Harris. Photo: Emma Murray.

She said the event required a “lot of lead in time”, forcing local organisers to relocate the event.

“It’s also the commitment of the people to travel and make the trip to such a remote location,” she said.

“It was a big decision.

“It would be millions Alice Springs has lost out on ... a lot of money.

“They’ve got a detective on (the Alice Springs Motorcycle Club) committee as well, so it wasn’t a light decision to make.

“It is safer in Darwin.”

However, she hoped the Territory would be included within the event’s national cycle and play host every seven years.

“A lot of states were trying to get it away from us,” she said.

Former Alice Springs NT junior motocross competitor Jake Tyrrell. Picture: Supplied.

Major Events Minister Paul Kirby said it was “disappointing” the motocross had been moved, but assured locals that other major events would go ahead as planned.

“The events we are investing in and backing in Alice Springs will continue to go on,” Minister Kirby said.

“We know when we do major events ... in Alice Springs the town comes alive.

“There will be a major focus on what we do down there through the course of 2023.”

Alice Springs mayor Matt Paterson also said it was disappointing the event had been moved from the Red Centre.

“It’s clearly upsetting for the community ... my heart goes out to those that are affected,” Paterson said.

Motorcycle Australia chief executive Peter Doyle said it was fantastic the event – a “rite of passage” for junior riders – was going ahead in the Territory.

“The strength of our sport was on display through this challenging situation,” Doyle said.