Crendon Tru7 Honda’s Conrad Mewse is to fulfil his lifelong dream of racing in the USA by contesting two AMA Nationals this season as well as three MXGP world championship rounds. It’s thanks to the Crendon Tru7 Honda team and sponsors helping the 25-year-old race at the very top level against the best riders in the world.

The main focus of Mewse and the team is to win the ACU British championship and the Nora Pro championships, where he will race alongside team-mate Jamie Carpenter on the all-new 2025 Honda CRF450R. Mewse also plans to contest Scottish championship rounds, a round of the Dutch Masters series plus two International races in France.

Former world junior champion Mewse will be helped in his Stateside journey with machinery support from Honda America. He will contest the sandy Southwick round in Massachusetts on June 28. A week later he will ride at Red Bud in Michigan, which is always a huge event as it coincides with the USA’S Fourth of July celebrations. With the Motocross of Nations at Ironman in Indiana on October 5, it means he may have a third race event in the USA this season if he is selected for Team GB.

For the world championship, he will race the British GP at Matterley Basin on June 22 then the deep sand circuits at Lommel in Belgium on August 3 and Arnhem in Holland on August 24.

Mewse, who already finished runner-up in the UK Arenacross series this year despite missing the opening round, said: “My total focus is on winning the British championship for myself and the team. I believe the best way to keep my intensity up and make sure I am the best I can be is to ride against the best riders in the world whenever I can, which is in the AMA Nationals and MXGP series.

“It’ll be a dream come true to race in the AMA series as I have never raced in the USA at all! Of course, these events are a long way off at the moment but if everything is going well with no problems, I’ll be there.”

Team owner, triple world 500 champion Dave Thorpe, said: “We want to do everything we can to give Conrad the best chance of winning the British championship and he believes this is the best way for him – and we fully support it.

“It’s been one of his lifetime goals to race against the best in America, and that’s why the Crendon Tru7 team, Honda, our technical partners and sponsors have come together to help make it all happen. Everyone is very excited for Conrad, and of course for the whole team as the UK championship season starts at the weekend.”

Mewse and Carpenter start their championships campaigns in the new Nora Pro series which kicks off at Oxford Moto Park on Sunday. The ACU British championship starts a week later at Hawkstone Park where Jake Nicholls will join them to race the new Honda CRF250R in the MX2 class.

Determined to win the only British title that has eluded him, he won both his heats after battling with holeshot specialist Tommy Searle.

But in the final he came face-to-face with the winner of the opening round, former AMA champion Dean Wilson.

Check out the incredible action and battle for the podium that also included former GP ace Taylor Hammal, Stark team-mates of defending champ Jack Brunell and for er world junior champ Eddie Wade, Adam Chatfield, Martin Barr and many more.

Over the last two seasons, which it’s easy to forget were his first on a top-class 450cc machine, Conrad’s partnership with the mighty CRF and the Crendon Tru7 Honda team run by three-time World Champion David Thorpe has yielded Championship wins in almost every series he’s contested fully.  After firing to the MX1 British title as a rookie in 2023, the unexpected regular addition of five-time World Champion Jeffrey Herlings to the series in ’24 was the only thing that stood between Conrad and a second straight crown.  Even then, the “Mewse Missile” stood up to be counted against “The Bullet”, widely renowned as one of the fastest riders of all time, and handed the Dutchman a few defeats in the process.   

Conrad is one of the rare breed that is genuinely fast enough to race Motocross full-time, and he has done so from a very early age.  He’s dedicated to his craft, and that can take its toll; “With the sport that we’re in, and how much we have to put into it, you don’t really have much downtime for anything else, you know?  What do I do outside of racing?  I’m big into my training for it!  I work with Paul Ryman, who won the Sprint Triathlon World Championship two years ago in his 35+ age group, so I’ve got a lot to look up to there with that sort of training.  I was massively into football as a kid, and I’m still a Manchester United supporter, but I prefer to play it than to watch! Like many Motocross riders, I can’t sit still for five minutes, so following another sport is difficult. I can’t really play much though, with the risk of injuries.  When I do get free time, which isn’t often, I spend as much time as I can with my girlfriend, go and look around a city, have some nice spa breaks. We’ve got our little miniature dachshund, called Wilson, so we go out for walks with him and that’s nice to switch off when we can.” 

Conrad’s father, Stephen, raced at amateur level and passed on the bug to Conrad, who did race a pre-Arenacross indoor series on 65cc machines, but didn’t carry on because he concentrated on outdoor racing, “That paid off because I won a Junior World Championship!”.  That title came in 2013, won at a single event at the circuit of Jinin in the Czech Republic.  The same year, a 14-year-old Conrad decimated the North-West European Qualifiers, winning all but one race from eight contested, and then going unbeaten at the Finale to take the European 85cc crown to the cheers of excited home fans at the MXGP of Great Britain, held at Matterley Basin near Winchester.  He moved full-time to Belgium as a teenager and became part of the factory Husqvarna team, known as a breeding ground for future World Champions.  One of the riders he beat in 2013 was the 2023 & ’24 MXGP World Champion, Jorge Prado.  Like Prado, Mewse was a prodigious talent, but ultimately GP success has eluded him.  So where does the now 25-year-old Somerset lad see the future of his career? 

“I’m really happy doing what I’m doing, the British Championship, Arenacross, selected races in the UK. I’m competing in some great Championships and I’m having so much fun doing it. MXGP is a bit of a sticky situation, a few riders are leaving, so I don’t think that’s where my future is, to be honest, although I still like to do as many rounds as I can, because it keeps the level up when you’re racing against the best riders in the world. I would like to do some AMA rounds [the National Championship in the USA], I would love to do some of them, that’s something I need to speak to the boss about! I am just happy where I am, we’re racking up the titles and that’s what it’s all about.” 

For sure the calm authority that David Thorpe brings with his support of Conrad helps to limit the amount of pressure that he puts on himself, which has tended to be the biggest chink in his armour.  He is a smooth, talented, flowing rider, with natural ability that only gets stunted by tension and unease.  At full, uninhibited flight, Mewse is a joy to watch, able to switch on his electrifying pace seemingly at will, even within the tight confines of Arenacross, finding lines and combinations that not many can match.  

After knocking himself out of last year’s series by running over his own foot with his bike in the paddock, he definitely has his eyes on this year’s prize; “100% I want the Championship and nothing less than that.  Arenacross is the only British title I haven’t won, so that’s the last one on my list to tick off.  I’ve built an Arenacross track at my place to prepare for this, and if the weather’s bad I can drive two hours to Wheeldon and practice there. I’ve also gone to Spain in December and will be out there between rounds banging the laps in! I was maybe a bit short in preparation the last two years, but last year I made steps forward, I was getting into the tracks a lot faster. Last year a silly little mistake cost me the title, but I’m coming back for redemption and I wanna wrap that title up, it’s the last one on my list!” 

Even pitted against indoor specialists with far more experience, his speed will stand out.  Get cheering for Conrad Mewse if he’s on the case, because he could very well be the best British rider of the 2020s. 

For Mewse, he was in incredible form all day. He set the fastest time in qualifying then came from third place through to take the lead away from Herlings and he held it to the flag in a shortened race so an injured rider could be attended to. Mewse also used the power of the Crendon Tru7 Honda CRF450R to set the fastest time of the race.

The 25-year-old Mewse got a great start as the gate dopped for the opening moto, third behind Tristan Purdon and Herlings. By the end of the first lap, the Dutchman had taken the lead but Mewse was right on his tail and applying the pressure.

When Herlings made a slight mistake on lap four, Mewse pounced and got through into the lead. Herlings was right behind and the pair set an astonishing pace, pulling away from third by 45 seconds after eight laps. Confident Mewse had a one second lead over Herlings when the red flag came out, securing the win for the Honda man.

Mewse said: “It’s so special to get the win by coming from behind and overtaking Herlings. Right from the start of the day I felt really good, and I had some good lines. I followed him and he made a little mistake, so I capitalised on it. I knew I had the pace from the start and felt comfortable leading. He’s winning GPs so to be battling with him is great.

“I’m a bit disappointed I didn’t get to race with him again in the second moto, but the win is fantastic for me and the team.

“For the last four weeks I was away from home, riding and testing to get ready for this event which is on a track I love. It was where I won my first MX1 race last year and I like the conditions – sandy and rough. You need an incredibly good bike and my Crendon Tru7 Honda certainly is that – a credit to the whole team.”

In the MX2 class, once again Crendon Tru7 Honda rider Taylor Hammal provided the fireworks as he staged a stunning charge towards the front of the field only to be thwarted by cruel luck. But his team-mate Jake Nicholls benefitted from Hammal’s bad luck as he took a fine fourth place – his best result of the season.

The race was initially led by Elliott Banks-Browne who soon succumbed to pressure from Cas Valk and red plate holder Jack Chambers, followed by Joel Rizzi. Nicholls rounded the first lap in fourth place, one spot in front of Hammal in a show of strength for the Crendon Tru7 Honda machines. For the next six laps, the pair battled it out until Hammal got by then he rapidly deposed of Rizzi and caught up to third placed Banks-Browne.

The pair rode hard and when Hammal made a passing attempt, Banks-Browne parried back but lost the front end and crashed. Hammal hit his rival’s bike and also went down, remounting in  distant eighth place which is where he finished. Local favourite Nicholls was right there to snatch fourth place, and crossed the line in the shadow of third place man Rizzi.

Hammal said: “Another day of frustration, I can’t seem to catch a break at the minute with any luck. With the only race today I managed to get a half decent start and then moved up to fourth, about to pass into third but he fell and I had nowhere to go, hitting his bike.

“I was so gutted as I was riding really well and Jack Chambers was just in front and I finally could’ve pushed for a top two.

“The results don’t seem to be matching the riding at the moment which is just really annoying. I know I can be top three but it’s just not working out. Everyone involved is working hard, so a podium result would be good to show.

“We had a friend pass away in the week so was really wanting that podium for him. I rode with his race number and had his old jersey on for the sighting lap.”

Team manager, triple world 500 champ Dave Thorpe said: “All three riders rode incredibly well today at the meeting which is always a great showcase for the sport. The track is brilliant and well prepared, and everyone did a fantastic job. So I really feel for everyone – the riders, fans and club – that something they have no control over meant the event had to be abandoned when three ambulances had to leave and they couldn’t get back from the hospital in time.”

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ACU British championship MX1 overall
1 Conrad Mewse Crendon Tru7 Honda 25

2Jeffrey Herlings 22

3 Tristan Purdon 20

4 Brad Todd 18

5 Martin Barr 16

6 Tom Grimshaw 15

7 Carlton Husband 14

8 Jason Meara 13

9 Dan Thornhill 12

10 Shaun Southgate 11

Championship positions after three rounds

1 Jeffrey Herlings 119

2 Conrad Mewse Crendon Tru7 Honda 116

3 Martin Barr 79

4 Brad Todd 78

5 Tristan Purdon 76

6 Jason Meara 73

7 Josh Gilbert 71

8 Sam Nunn 64

9 Dan Thornhill 50

10 Tom Grimshaw 45

29 Callum Green Crendon Tru7 Honda 3

MX2 overall

1 Cas Valk 25

2 Jack Chambers 22

3 Joel Rizzi 20

4 Jake Nicholls Crendon Tru7 Honda 18

5 Dylan Walsh 16

6 Tommy Searle 15

7 Todd Kellett 14

8 Taylor Hammal Crendon Tru7 Honda 13

9 Ollie Colmer 12

10 Alfie Jones 11

Championship positions after three rounds

1 Jack Chambers 114

2 Cas Valk 112

3 Joel Rizzi 98

4 Tommy Searle 88

5 Dylan Walsh 79

6 Taylor Hammal Crendon Tru7 Honda 70

7 Jake Nicholls Crendon Tru7 Honda 60

8 Ben Mustoe 53

9 Joe Brookes 48

10 Ollie Colmer 47

That leave Mewse in a strong second place in the series, just six points behind Herlings, who has not yet confirmed if he will ride more rounds after his two wildcard appearances so far this year.

The opening moto saw Mewse tail Herlings around the first corner and give chase as hard as he could. But at half distance, Herlings managed to start edging away as Mewse held on for a solid second place. Such was their pace that third placed Triston Purdon was more than a minute behind the Honda rider, with a best lap time almost five seconds slower. The leaders lapped up to seventh place.

The second race saw Herlings carve through into second by the end of the first lap, then take the lead on lap two and began to pull away. Mewse was buried near the back of the pack after mistiming the start, and began a stunning charge towards the front.

The 25-year-old Mewse managed to move in tenth on the first lap, and eventually picked off his rivals one by one and pulled through to second place by lap five. But by that time, Herlings had a commanding lead so Mewse brough home the Honda CRF450R is second place again for second overall.

Mewse said: “I had a fantastic day bit but it’s frustrating. Days like this would be amazing if Jeffrey wasn’t here! But if he doesn’t do the full series, I’m in a great place for the championship and I’m riding well.

“I was pushing on in on in race one but I tightened up about half way and that was it. I was really disappointed with that.

“In the second one I was really conscious I needed a good start as I wanted to run with him. But I was fifth from last and had to come back through the pack. I got to second place and he was gone – there was no catching him.”

But it was a nightmare day for his Crendon Tru7 Honda MX1 team-mate Callum Green who didn’t even complete a lap of the first race. He crashed hard and was immediately run over by a following rider. Green was hospitalised where initial scans showed he’d fractured his hip and forearm. He will be out of action for some time.

In the MX2 class, Taylor Hammal looked to be on for a podium after running second for the majority of the opener, showing stunning pace. He eventually lost the place but third was still a great result. But in race two he had a crash on the start and had to come right back through the pack. He dug deep and bravely fought through to sixth place, which gave him fifth overall.

Hammal said: “I was chuffed with today and it’s a step in the right direction. I had a really good first race, and ran in second for most of it but got third in the end. I didn’t actually realise I was second for so long.

“Then in race two I crashed on the start and it was a tough race to come back through. It was a long way to go to close the gap down, so I have to be happy to get back to sixth.”

His Honda CRF250R team-mate Jake Nicholls, who came out of retirement to contest the British championship this year, had a tough day. He went down on the first lap of the opener and rode with a damaged throttle to come back to tenth. In race two he got away cleanly but had a minor technical issue yet still managed to hang on to eighth place for eighth overall, and he now holds eight in the series.

Nicholls said: “It was a frustrating day as the first race I had a good start and went down in the second turn and my throttle grip got stuck in someone’s sprocket which tore it all up. But I got back on and came through to tenth, which was a pretty good ride.

“In the second I had a better start and stayed on! But the bike wouldn’t rev out fully so that made it one of the most frustrating races. The track was demanding and I was having to ride the socks off it and I got eighth. I ride for fun nowadays but that wasn’t much fun!

“We played about with the bike when it was muggy this morning then it got warmer and I think it was that. Maybe one day I’ll have a race without dramas!”

Team manager, triple world 500 champ Dave Thorpe said: “Obviously we’re all thinking of Callum who had a nasty accident and wish him all the very best for a fast recovery.

“The rest of the team had some great races today, with all three putting on some great performances and having some incredible rides.

“Conrad is in top form and riding so well. It’s a shame he couldn’t get close enough to have a serious run at Jeffrey Herlings but his second race start wasn’t the best. We’re only two rounds in and lots of points to play for.

“In the MX2 class, Taylor had a great opening race but I think what was really impressive was how he came through the field in race two after a crash at the start. That showed real determination and race craft to get back to sixth.

“And Jake also had two gritty rides. He isn’t a full-time professional racer any more so to ride like he did today against such top competition is a credit to him. He showed real determination in both races.”

Next week the team heads to Landrake in Cornwall for round three of the Fastest 40 championship where Mewse and Hammal will both be in the MX1 class.    

The MX1 class was never really in doubt as Mewse quickly moved into the lead on the first lap in race one and began to pull away to a huge lead. His only issue came when he thought he’d crossed the finish line and pulled off the track, only to be waved back on by his team But his lead was so huge, he still won by Triston Purdon.

Jason Meara took a solid third, from fellow Ulsterman Martin Barr, Mewse’s new team-mate Taylor Hammal, who set the fastest lap in qualifying, went down twice on the first lap but came back to fifth from Tom Grimshaw and Jamie Carpenter.

Second time out Purdon led again and it took Mewse a couple of laps to get by, then he started to pull away for an unchallenged win.

This time Hammal made a batter start, reeled in Purdon then pounced on lap six to take second. That dropped Purdon to third form Barr and his Apico Honda team-mate Grimshaw.

It meant Mewse continues his unbeaten run this season with first overall, from Purdon and Hammal.

In the MX2 class, the opener was a thriller between Husky’s Charlie Heyman and Searle. The youngster held off experienced man Searle until half way, until the former British champ got by and edged away for the win. Ben Mustoe came through to third from Joe Brookes and Joel Rizzi.

Searle led away in race two and controlled the pace, keeping a decent distance from his Kawasaki team-mate Joel Rizzi in second, with that man Mustoe third again. Jamie Wainwright took fourth while Heyman had problems on the first lap and came around in 17^th spot. He pulled back up to fifth with a gritty ride.

So Searle took the overall from Mustoe and Rizzi, with Heyman on the same points but in fourth place.

Former 85 ace Josh Vail dominated both packed 125 races, to claim a dominant overall win from Jamie Keith who took a pair of second places with Charlie Richmond third both time out for third overall.

French Supercross specialist Pierre Lozzi steps in for Mel Pocock on the Dirt Store Kawasaki.

MX2 MXGP rider Jorge Zaragoza from Spain takes over for Dylan Woodcock, who’s forced to sit out the visit to the Granite City due to mandatory concussion rest.

And finally, the big surprise is that Crendon TRU7 Honda Racing star, Conrad Mewse is still entered for Aberdeen. With only 10 points separating Mewse and Stark Future’s Jack Brunell at the top of the championship standings, Conrad looks set to grit his teeth and compete to keep his Arenacross British Championship dream alive.

Traxxas Pro Rider Entry List: Aberdeen

Find out more at www.arenacrossuk.com.

In typical AX fashion, the intensely close Main Event podium was rounded out by Mark McCann 64 YouTube Channel’s Dylan Woodcock, and Stark Future Racing’s Justin Bogle. Bogle led briefly until Mewse came pst on the first lap. Woodcock came through to catch Mewse but never got close enough to mount a serious challenge.

It was disaster for Mel Pocock who fell hard in his heat, and retired for the night. The crash also took out Elliott Banks-Browne who did race again, but pulled out of the main in obvious pain.