-- Pro --
A terrible blow to reigning National Champion Christopher Brenton on day one at the ATV Nationals effectively put an end to his title defence. An axle failure on lap two of the first moto left the Honda man stranded. With only five races to decide the title, and the tight motocross points scoring system, no rider could afford to lose 25 points through a DNF.

Likewise fellow Sandgroper Ryan Lancaster's fate was sealed on day one when an engine failure put him out of the points.

Nobody could have predicted however the astounding fight back staged by Lancaster over the remaining four races. Victory by 9 seconds in race two, 22 seconds in race three, 29 seconds in race four and an astounding win by over a minute in race five stamped his authority as the fastest man of the event.

Lancaster effectively demolished the field in each outing but was left to rue what could have been if not for that disastrous engine failure on day one.

"The weekend was fantastic, and after the technical problem in the opening race the bike kept getting better and better," said Lancaster.

"To take four from five and to do it in such a style was great, I was aiming to go into the event and back up my recent state win, despite not taking home the overall trophy I am happy with my performance."

"With so much going on the track was constantly changing, and the YFZ450 was really up to the task, and the result has made me hungrier than ever to back up and take the 2008 title."
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Lancaster's astonishing speed earned him victory in every race he finished but that was still not enough to overcome the consistency of Yewers. The #1 plate going to Western Australia's man mountain of motocross by a slender two points.

Defending champ Brenton took two second places, a third place and a fourth to try and claw his way back into the running but was pipped out of an overall podium by race one victor Joshua Ross. The Victorian backed up his brilliant start to the event with a fifth, two fourths and a second to take third overall.

Manufacturer honours again went to Honda with Champ Yewers, third placed Ross and fourth placed Brenton all aboard TRX450R machines

The 2007 Nationals again showcased the strength of ATV racing in Western Australia. The Newry circuit in Victoria is nothing like any track in Western Australia, but still Sandgropers managed to fill four of the top five national rankings.

The strength of the WA contingent is no doubt largely fuelled not only by the popularity of ATV racing way out west, but also the fact that ATV riders compete at all rounds of the WA Motocross Championships, and have done for a number of years. Initially there was plenty of opposition from the two wheeled fraternity against the inclusion of the four wheelers in their already busy event schedules, but quickly that ill will dissipated and the ATV boys, and girls, are now a welcome fixture on all WA Motocross event schedules. Clearly something similar needs to happen up and down the eastern seaboard to enable racers to do battle more regularly at large and well run events so they can spur each other on to bigger and better things.

Check out some of the image galleries at www.atvpod.com.au from the 2007 ATV Nationals. More images will go up throughout the week and into next week.