A man has been arrested after a combined effort of Southern patrols and PolAir overnight.

About 10.30pm Thursday 1 April Southern District police were patrolling along the Esplanade at Christies Beach when they observed a silver motorbike travelling south with no registration plates. Police lost sight of the bike but called for the assistance of PolAir who were in the area.

PolAir picked up the bike riding along Beach Road where it was allegedly travelling at high speeds. The bike was tracked through a number of suburbs before heading along Commercial Road at Seaford Meadows to Atlantis Avenue where the rider pulled over.

PoliAir directed patrols to the location of the bike and rider; upon seeing police the rider allegedly ran from the scene dumping a back pack on Anchor Avenue. PolAir coordinated cordons before the rider was cornered and arrested by patrols.

The 31-year-old Morphett Vale man has been charged with riding at a speed dangerous, riding unregistered, uninsured, riding disqualified and traffic in a controlled drug after police allegedly found a quantity of illicit drugs in the back pack.

He was refused bail and will appear in the Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Tuesday.