LOSING TRACK : MOTOCROSS COURSE EXPECTED TO CLOSE.

Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer

After nearly three years at Castaic Lake, motocross racing is being evicted to make way for the reopening of a beach and swim area.

Promoter Shane Trittler said he has been looking for a new site since the park reopened part of its lower lagoon for swimming in July.

``They don't want us there,'' said Trittler, who hopes to move his operation next year to an 80-acre site in Castaic near the Golden State Freeway. ``They have other plans up there.''

Park officials said there is not enough room for both swimmers and off-road motorcyclists, and the park's master plan doesn't call for motocross racing.

``The motocross came in because we didn't have swimming,'' said Frank Gonzales, superintendent of the Castaic Lake Recreation Area. ``Now that we have swimming, those two activities are not compatible.''

The county Parks and Recreation Department reopened the beach July 24 after obtaining a chlorination system to purify the water. Officials closed the beach in 1992 after high levels of bacteria made the water unsafe for human contact.

A year later, Trittler obtained a temporary permit to build the track, which draws 200 to 300 motocross enthusiasts each week. Park officials have not set a deadline to end motocross racing at the park, but Trittler said he needs a year to secure a new site and obtain permits.

He said he will miss Castaic Lake, whose natural surroundings drew motocross fans to the site.

``People would bring their families out,'' he said. ``It was just packed with moms and baby carriages. It's the best place there is for families to come down. They can walk by the lake and come use the park.''

The motocross track at Castaic Lake is one of three in northern Los Angeles County. The others are in Palmdale and in Hungry Valley near Gorman.

The Castaic Lake track is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. each Saturday and from 3 p.m. to dusk each Tuesday and Thursday. Races are held about once a month.

Although Trittler doesn't want to leave Castaic Lake, he said he looks forward to building a bigger track and peewee course for young motocross racers at his new site.

``We want to make it more of a natural terrain type of track,'' he said.

CAPTION(S):

4 Photos

Photo: (1--color in SAC only) Riders practice on a motoc ross track, called a conflict with nearby swimming at Castaic Lake. The race track's days are numbered.

(2--color) Riders zip along the 3-year-old motocross track at Castaic Lake.

(3--ran in SAC only--color) The promoter says whole families come to watch races and scenery at a motocross park.

(4--ran in AV only--color) Two little riders get in training for motocross racing at Lake Casitas.

Terri Thuente/Daily News