Johnson, who competes for the Cowra club, has been a star at recent state and national titles held in the Central West. He won the 2003 and 2005 Australian 125cc titles at Bathurst, beating home Panorama Motorcycle Club rider Scott Brown both years. He also won the 2005 NSW title at Bathurst.

Veteran clerk of the course Kevin McDonald (PMC) was again at the forefront of Saturday’s event and had a dedicated team of more than 80 officials to assist him on race day.

The Bathurst-based PMC club again hosted the annual raceday since it was moved to Blayney last year.

Bathurst Showground had previously hosted six Australian Longtrack Championships, two NSW titles and three open Long Track events between the 1990s and 2005.

Conflict arose between Bathurst Harness Racing Club and PMC over what the cost should be for the PMC to remove the sand and regrade the track.

Blayney Shire Council jumped on the chance to host the event and it now appears to have a permanent home at Blayney Show-ground.

It was Blayney’s second hosting of the PMC event. Last year Blayney held the NSW Country Championships with this being their first-ever national titles.

PMC president Mark Fitzsimons estimated there was a crowd of between 1000 and 1500 spectators at the 2007 event.

“It was a big and long day ... the track was brilliant and all the riders commented on what a good facility it is. They said it was unbelievable,” Fitzsimons said.

“We couldn’t have been happier with the day. Luckily the weather held out for us and we got through the day.”

Fitzsimons said the traditional first Saturday in November date is locked in for 2008 at Blayney.

However, he said it’s unknown whether Blayney will host the NSW Championships or Australian titles next year.

Bathurst had two racers finish in top-three spots racing for the Cowra club.

Johnson (# 177 Kawasaki KX250) won the national 250cc stroke title from fellow NSW pair Graeme Smith and Michael Kirkness.

Also racing for Cowra, Bathurst’s Wayne Boserio (Honda CRF 490) was third in the over 450cc four stroke championship behind Queensland flyer Joshua Gracjczonek and second-placed Jarrod Koppe.

NSW racer Richard Sweetnam (NSWSSRA) claimed the 500cc Longtrack national title and after a day of high-paced action.

Aside from Sweetnam’s success, Wyalong star Darren Herrick (500cc FTX championship), ACT rider Luke Gough (up to 450cc four stroke championship), Preston (Victoria) racer Josh Waters (250cc four stroke championship), Canobolas' Michael Dyer (125cc solo championship) and Kurri Kurri pair Jack Stevens (Twin Challenge Support) and Chris Potts (500cc classic solo support) were other solo winners.

NSWSSRA pair Chris Pym and Adam Constable (1100cc Long Track Sidecar Championship) and North Brisbane duo Barry Raffin and Harold McCahon (1100cc Dirt Track Sidecar) were victors in the sidecar events.