Gough finished second in the 250cc Australian Longtrack Championships in Bathurst over the weekend, failing by less than a wheel's length of taking out the top prize.

It is the second year in a row the 17-year-old has collected a silver medal at the Longtrack titles after finishing as runner-up in the 125cc race in 2002.

But this year's result was even more heartbreaking for the young rider, after dominating the early races in the 250cc series on his Godden Slider with a modified Honda engine.

Gough won all three of his heats and went into the final as the top pick after registering the fastest time out of the 55 starters of 1:28.53.

But Gough started slowly in the final and going into the first corner he was running last.

Having a good start is so important in Longtrack races, which are conducted over four laps, so the teenager had plenty of work to do from the get go.

The Highlands rider had worked his way up into second place with about a lap to go, but was still almost 30 metres behind race leader Darren Herrick.

But as the chequered flag was about to fall, Gough had worked his way within striking distance but fell desperately short of winning the final.

"I knew I hadn't won it, so it was a bit disappointing, because there wasn't much in it.

"If we had another corner I would have got it," Gough said confidently.

Gough has been riding bikes since he was six and has been competing in longtrack and dirt track events for about three years.

He said the adrenaline rush of competing is the best thing about the sport.

"The speed, it's just awesome," Gough said.

"Those bikes are what I really like to ride and just the cornering you're doing it so fast, about 150-160 (kph)."

Gough is about to embark on the next stage in his racing career when he undertakes on his first season of speedway racing, starting this Saturday night at Gosford.

Gough is not very experienced on the speedway circuit, riding his Jawa 500cc bike about six times.