MATTERLEY Basin was the setting for the latest round of the World Motocross Championship last weekend.

Thousands of spectators watched on the hillsides for two days of professional racing.

Fans from all over the globe waved flags and banners as they cheered on their heroes.

Following qualification on Saturday June 18 hopes were running high among the home crowd as Winchester-born Max Anstie secured pole position in the MX2 class.

However, it was 16-year-old British starlet Conrad Mewse who stole the show in race one, who ended up in a career-best fifth place.

Anstie finished fifth overall after the two races, with Mewse ninth.

In the MXGP class Tommy Searle was top Briton, finishing 11th in a rain soaked day of racing.

The annual event is held at the same estate as music festival BoomTown Fair. Owner of the estate, Peveril Bruce, recently won planning permission for the music and MX events.

Winchester City Council’s licensing committee allowed the festival to expand to a 60,000 capacity in time for the event from August 11-14.

Contribution from Daniel Scott.