TENS of thousands of spectators gathered near Winchester over the weekend for an annual motocross event.

More than 35,000 people were counted at the award-winning Matterley Estate circuit, which hosted the MXGP and MX2 World Championships across two days.

Event promoter Steve Dixon said: “It went very well. The crowd and the riders all loved it and it’s so rewarding to see so many people show up.”

Mr Dixon said the he believed the success of the event this year was highly significant.

“We’ve been running for ten years now but this year’s event is a turning point for us. I’m from Winchester and having a successful track nearby is like a dream come true.”

He added: “For a while we have been considered a nuisance - associated with Boomtown because of the venue. But I think people now see we value the South Downs National Park.”

Historically, Great Britain dominated the early years of motocross, before the competition became more fierce.

With the rise of the sport in North America from the 1970s, the USA embarked on a famous winning streak, lasting 13 years from 1981 to 1993.

Winchester City Council was asked about the number of noise complaints but had not responded at the time of going to press.

The MX event comes as landowner Peveril Bruce is applying for a significant change to the planning status of events on his land.

Until now the MX and Boomtown events have had temporary approvals. But now Mr Bruce has applied for permanent planning permission and the application is being considered by the South Downs National Park planning authority.

Mr Bruce argues that after 20 years of hosting events on his land he has shown that the site is suitable.

However many local people object to a permanent permission saying democratic control will be lost. They cite traffic congestion, noise pollution and light pollution of the night skies.

They say that although the Boomtown event only lasts a long weekend the setting up and dismantling of the site take many weeks.

Many people have emailed the planning authority to express their support with the majority coming from outside the locality.