Crendon FASTRACK Honda leads new-look British championship
Crendon FASTRACK Honda’s Conrad Mewse now has the red plate in both major UK motocross championships after taking a well-deserved double win at Hawkstone Park on Sunday. And his team-mate Jamie Carpenter also had two storming rides with fifth and fourth places to take fourth overall in the opening ACU British championship.
But it was far from easy for 25-year-old Mewse who had to come through the pack in both 25-minute plus two lap races on the rough, sandy circuit which had attracted a large line up of 35 riders.
After narrowly missing out on pole position to MXGP regular Adam Sterry in qualifying by a fifth of a second, Mewse didn’t get a great start in the opening heat while Sterry quickly took the top spot and began to pull away. Mewse was careful to pick his way forward through the traffic, to ensure he had a clean run towards the front of the pack.
Rounding the first lap in seventh place, he used his speed and track craft to pick off his rivals and it took him until lap three to catch and pass Carpenter who was having a great first British championship ride for the team in fourth pace despite being under the weather. Mewse continued to make up ground and by lap eight, he worked through to runner-up spot behind former British champion Sterry who at one time had a commanding lead.
The Crendon FASTRACK Honda man took another lap to pounce on the Welshman, then he pulled away with lap times several seconds faster. Mewse pulled away hugely, crossing the line a huge 36.8 secs in front, having set the fastest lap of the race. Third placed Tristan Purdon was 52 seconds behind the leader. And Carpenter brought the Crendon FASTRACK machine home in a solid fifth place as Honda CRF450Rs filled five of the top seven places.
In the second moto Mewse was determined to get a better start and got a decent jump off the gate, but had to back off as he got crowded out by other racers. But once again it was a flying start for Carpenter who was well inside the top ten at the end of the first lap. Mewse ended the lap in 12th place, and once again started to make his moves towards the head of the field where again, Sterry was in front from Josh Gilbert.
It took four laps for Mewse to move into third place, just as Gilbert made a lunge to put his Honda into the lead. But he soon ran wide which let Sterry get back to the front. But nobody had an answer for Mewse who got close enough by lap nine to leap past Sterry and take the lead away. From then on, the win was in no doubt as Mewse pulled away by 21 seconds and set a blistering fastest lap, 2.3 seconds quicker than Sterry’s best.
Carpenter was also having a great ride, making regular passes as he moved up to a fantastic fourth place to take fourth overall on the day.
Mewse said: “With two wins I certainly can’t complain! It was awesome day for me and the team – it’s what they deserve as the grind they put in for me non-stop is phenomenal. That bike’s incredible so I take my hat off to them.
“It’s nice to start the season like this and get the red plate back on the bike as I didn’t have it all last year. I made life a bit difficult for myself with two bad starts. I had two awesome jumps but fluffed it after the gate as I was a bit off balance. It made for good racing and really tested where we’re at right now and I’m in a good place. I’m fit and strong and the bike’s incredible.
“But when you come round the first turn in 15th it’s not just about passing, it’s not making any mistakes as with so many other riders everywhere. It can end in disaster. I focused on not rushing the first few laps. I was confident of my ability at the end of the race but Josh and Adam were riding well and when I was second they were a fair bit in front. So to go one-one is a great result to start the year.”
Carpenter said: “A solid day. I’ve not been very well since the race last week and I’m still on antibiotics for a strep throat. Then I crashed on a fast lap in qualifying , my heart rate was up and I thought it was going to be a tough day. I had a nap for a couple of hours to reset.
“Then ripped two decent starts, found a decent rhythm and got fifth and fourth for fourth overall so a very solid day. Nearly the podium which is my goal this year. So to be there at round one is great and I couldn’t be happier.
“The bike is mega. I’m still working on suspension as I can’t really get to practice on tracks as rough as the race tracks we’ve had for a couple of weeks. But apart from that, I’m loving the bike.”
In the MX2 class, Crendon FASTRACK Honda CRF250R rider Jake Nicholls was having his first race for more than six months as he now only races part time. After a sixth in his qualifying session, he made a great start in the opening moto and rocketed into the first corner with the leading group. But disaster stuck as Billy Askew ran wide and crashed out hard, taking the unfortunate Nicholls down with him. The Honda man helped pick up crashed machines off Askew then set off right at the back of the pack.
Nicholls quickly caught up and was involved in a series of huge battles as he managed to get by 15 riders as he worked his way up to a commendable 14th place with lap times that were on the pace of the top six men.
In the second race, he made a much safer start and rounded the opening lap in 11th place. From there, he made consistent passes as he moved forward and by lap seven he managed to move into fifth place which is where he stayed until the end. That gave him ninth overall despite the opening race disappointment.
Nicholls said: “That first race start was obviously a bit of a disaster that wasn’t my fault. Then when I got going I was in packs of riders. It was like being in a schoolboy race again with riders all over the track just trying to make passes.
“But in the second race it was much better. I had a decent ride and some good battles as I got fifth. So for a first race back, I’m happy with that.”
Team manager Ryan Thorpe said: “This is the second week of championship racing for the team and just like last week, it was a great result and an impressive effort from everyone.
“After not getting great starts it was an incredible ride for Conrad to come through the field and still win by big margins. It shows just how on form he is at the moment, and how he’s getting on so well with the bike too.
“And it was a fantastic day for Jamie, especially as he’s not been feeling too well. To get fourth overall is simple a great result at the first British championship and shows both riders are in a very good place for the season.
“For Jake in MX2, he showed real maturity especially after the crash in the first corner. The bike was burning Billy Askew and Jake helped get the bike off him before getting going. The second race was much better for Jake and he really enjoyed it, which is what it’s all about for him.”
For a full set of photos go to https://we.tl/t-uqZGS3m1dM
Results and championship points after round 1, MX1:
1 Conrad Mewse Crendon FASTRACK Honda 50
2 Adam Sterry 44
3 Josh Gilbert 38
4 Jamie Carpenter Crendon FASTRACK Honda 34
5 Bradd Todd
6 John Adamson 26
7 Ben Edwards 25
8 Carlton Husband 25
9 Jason Meara 24
10 Matheo Miot 20
MX2:
1 Bobby Bruce 47
2 Tommy Searle 42
3 Billy Askew 40
4 Ben Mustoe 32
5 Ollie Colmer 31
6 Charlie Heyman 31
7 Glenn McCormick 27
8 Gyan Doensen 24
9 Jake Nicholls Crendon FASTRACK Honda 23
10 James Barker 23
