IN a season that lasted seven months and 30 races, it took less than three minutes for the title of Honda Hornet champion to slip through Lance Cronshaw's fingers.

The Great Harwood teenager was two laps from claiming his first-ever championship at Donington Park when his engine blew up, handing victory to his rival Alistair Fagan.

"Everyone knows that fate can sometimes deal a cruel hand, but we'd didn't realise just how cruel," said Lance's dad Phillip.

"The lad is just gutted. To have got so close to something and then had it snatched away at the very last moment is gut-wrenching -- for everyone."

The highly-rated 18-year-old had been the pacesetter in the one-make series all season, stringing together a host of race victories and fastest laps.

In one memorable 'triple header' meeting at Cadwell Park, Cronshaw was awarded the 'Man of the Meeting' trophy for setting fastest time in practice, claiming all three victories and recording fastest lap in each!

The results were enough to take Cronshaw into the Donington showdown with a 10-point cushion over his adversary -- and 40 points on offer.

"Lance knew he needed a win in the first race to put all the pressure onto Fagan for the deciding six-lapper," explained Phillip.

"And he did just that, beating Fagan by over seven seconds and getting fastest lap into the bargain.

"All we had to do was finish in the top six and we were home and dry, irrespective of anyone else.

"Lance did a great job in the opening laps, kept his head down and out of trouble and was leading comfortably.

"With just two laps to go, without warning, the engine went onto three cylinders. Lance began dropping down the field as his bike got slower and slower.

"He was desperate to get it to the end, but on the run-in to the finishing line he was pipped for sixth and suddenly it was all over.

"No-one could believe it. The engine had given us no problems all season, and for it to blow up right at the end was almost too much to bear."