MOTORCYLE mania swept Hampshire as Beaulieu played host to one of its biggest events of the year.

The National Motor Museum echoed to the sound of high-performance bikes being pushed to the limit in front of a huge crowd. Two days of high-octane action made Motorcycle World a roaring success - in more ways than one.

Stunt riders performing at the event included the internationally renowned Jean-Pierre Goy, whose unique skills have graced two of the James Bond films.

Goy jumped aboard a Yamaha motorcycle and chased Roger Moore down an ice-covered bobsled run in the 1981 film For Your Eyes Only.

The French daredevil returned to the world of 007 in 1997, when he doubled for Pierce Brosnan in the 18th Bond thriller, Tomorrow Never Dies.

Goy's BMW R1200 leapt from one Saigon rooftop to another as a helicopter flew between the buildings below.

Other star performers appearing at Motorcycle World included the 11-times British trials champion Sammy Miller and his team of Grand Prix riders.

The weekend comprised a packed programme of events including an appearance by the Puddle Jumpers - small racing cars powered by motorcycle engines - that were made famous by Stirling Moss and Mike Hawthorn.

Beaulieu also turned the clock back by including a display of vintage motorcycles built between 1915 and the early 1950s.

Sunday saw a gathering of magnificent Harley-Davidsons, followed later in the day by an exciting display of enduro and supermoto machines, plus a selection of Suzuki bikes from Japan. More than 32,000 people attended the 2003 Motorcycle World and this year's crowd figure is expected to be even higher.

Beaulieu's public relations manager Margaret Rowles said the event had been a great success. "The weather on Saturday had a bit of a dampening effect but on Sunday people were flooding in and it was incredibly successful," she said. "It was a great event, with wonderful arena entertainment."