Teignbridge Council has agreed to stage new talks in a bid to find an approved site for off-road motorcyclists who use private land illegally in Kingsteignton.
It has also agreed to write to other councils in the south west to see if a joint solution would be appropriate.
The decision is a small triumph for Cllr Sandra Heath, who cajoled her colleagues into a re-think after the authority abandoned its search two years ago having had no luck.
It is in her ward that illegal riders are risking life and limb and destroying new trees in restored sand extraction sites.
She told Teignbrige Council Executive Committee on Monday that after Bovey Heath had been converted into a Local Nature Reserve in 2002 riders had found nowhere else suitable.
'I'm asking that we pick up the cudgel again and resume our search with gusto,' she said.
Cllr David Cox, who has responsibility for leisure services, agreed to talk about the subject at 'the earliest convenience'. 'Nobody likes it (off-roading) in their back yard I'm afraid,' he said.
Head of planning Steve Robinson said that two sites identified at Drumbridges and Kingsteignton would both have fallen foul of noise pollution laws.
'I think this is going to be the crux of it. It's got to be a site where that can't occur,' he said.
Cllr Rhona Parker said: 'My mother brought me up to say there's no such word as can't,' and urged the council to keep looking.
'Are you afraid to put this on your list of targets because you won't make it?' she asked council leader, Cllr Alan Connett. He said it was a case of priority and demand and that other sports groups also faced a lack of facilities.
Cllr Ray Frost suggested that illegal riders were not a problem unique to Teignbridge and that it should talk to other councils about it.
Cllr Cox then suggested that if a 'grass roots' campaign was to grow the council would see if it could assist.
Both ideas received the backing of the council and Cllr Heath will now arrange preliminary talks with riders and willing landowners.