PROTESTS are mounting at a major threat to off-road motorsport and corporate events resulting from a government decision made just before Parliament was dissolved.

The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) has joined the governing bodies of motorsport who are challenging the government decision to stop subsidies to farmers who allow part of their land to be used temporarily for any form of motorsport.

The new farm subsidy scheme is called the Single Payment Scheme (SPS) and replaced the Common Agricultural Policy.

The new scheme pays farmers for the land they own and not what they produce. The European Directive on agricultural subsidies does not prohibit motorsports on land eligible for SPS.

However, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the UK has taken the decision, without consultation, to stop these payments if agricultural land is used, even temporarily, for any form of motorsport.

This action by one division of DEFRA comes at a time when another division within DEFRA has been calling for land to be made available for off-road motorsport activity to curb illegal off- road use.

Motorcycle sports that will be particularly impacted are trials, grass track, the majority of enduros and motocross as they become financially untenable and homeless.

Other aspects of motorsport to be affected will include motorcycle practice tracks, quad bike tracks and trekking, off-road car events and motorised aspects of corporate entertainment.

DEFRA is expected to argue that it has not 'banned' anything, as motorsports can still continue as long as farmers do not claim a subsidy for the land used (often only once a year).

However, the income from motorsport is usually a fraction of that available from subsidies, so the farmer has no choice but to cease allowing his land to be used for motorsport.

This is seen as a further blow to the agricultural community at a time when DEFRA policy is supposed to encourage income diversification.

Craig Carey-Clinch MCI's director of public affairs, said: "It would appear that DEFRA is a department that is out of control, with one division calling for more land to be made available for motorsport and another withdrawing farming subsidies if the motorsport use is permitted even for a single day a year.

"It is believed that more than 40 per cent of car competitions will be eliminated and an even bigger proportion of motorcycle events.

"The solution is simple: all DEFRA needs to do is to revise its guidelines and to continue subsidies for land that is only temporarily used for motorsport purposes. This is entirely compatible with the EU Directive. We want this rule repealed forthwith and for DEFRA ministers in the post-General Election government to work much more closely and sympathetically with the motorcycle and motor sports community."

Announcing the launch of the Guidance Note, Minister for Food and Farming Lord Whitty said: "The Single Payment Scheme will put farmers and other land managers at the forefront of efforts to develop thriving and sustainable rural communities.

"In drawing up this indicative list of activities, we have been mindful of the need to balance business diversification opportunities with the necessity to abide by the rules on eligibility of land under the scheme."