Crendon Tru7 Honda’s Conrad Mewse signed off his British championship season in incredible form with a dominant moto win over five-times world champion Jeffrey Herlings, which helped him nail down second in the series at the final round at a sandy Preston Docks tracks in Lancashire.
Coming into the day trailing Herlings by 15 points in the championship, the 25-year-old Crendon Tru7 Honda rider did all he could to retain his British title and had the large crowd gripped with excitement.
Mewse had a powerful ride in the opening moto, when he overtook early leader Herlings on the first full lap then proceeded to ride a perfect race and pull away to a comfortable victory, a stunning 29 seconds in front. Mewse was so rapid, he set a fastest lap almost four seconds faster than Herlings and seven seconds quicker than the next fastest British rider, Josh Gilbert.
In the second race, Mewse put his Honda CRF450R into the lead in the first corner to take the holeshot, but Herlings was right on his tail. But the gritty Brit once again looked comfortable at the front, setting the fastest lap of the moto on his second lap. But he pushed too hard in one of the soft berms and went down on the fourth lap. Herlings pounced as Mewse remounted after losing 11 seconds. He then started to reel the Dutchman in and went faster than the race leader on five of the next six laps. But as the pair pulled a huge gap on the pack, Mewse was slowed by backmarkers so could never get close enough to mount a challenge for the win.
So Herlings took the race win and the title, while Mewse took a heroic second in the moto, three seconds back but a huge 1m 38s in front of third place Gilbert. That gave the Honda rider second overall on the day and runner-up in the series to go with his title win in the Fastest 40 championship which finished last month.
Mewse said: “It’s mixed emotions as it’s been really tough. Obviously second in the championship is not what we wanted. I had a bit of fast company all year, so it was made a little more difficult, but we’ve done what we could.
“But today was a great day. In the first race, I got an OK start, got into second place, then passed for the lead and just rode my own race. I had nothing to lose and I just finally relaxed and rode hard so see what I saw to do. There’s not many people in the world that can go to that level and with Jeffrey, I’ve had to go to another level this year.
“I’m trying to race against who I believe is the fastest man on the planet and it’s taken me to another level, so I appreciate him coming over. Obviously it’s made it tough to win.
“In the second race I was leading, felt good again, and it was going to be a good race. And then I unfortunately crashed. I picked it back up, closed it in a little bit, dropped back a little bit, closed it in a little bit, and then some lappers got in my way and ruined the chance for me. But I came back as best I could. But it was a fantastic day, I’ve gone to another level and we know where to start off from next year.”
The opening MX1 moto saw Crendon Tru7 Honda’s Taylor Hammal get squeezed on the start and he rounded the first lap in 11th place. But he got his head down and made lots of ground, catching and passing his rivals as he pulled through to a solid seventh spot – just a couple of seconds behind fifth place.
But a better ride was to come in race two as the 24-year-old Hampshireman staged an incredible ride though the field, coming through from 19th place to a solid sixth. That gave him sixth overall on the day and 14th in the series despite only contesting the last two rounds.
Earlier in the season he had been racing in the MX2 class on a Crendon Tru7 Honda CRF250R and still took tenth in that series despite making the switch up to MX1.
Hammal said: “Honestly, I was a bit off today and I was gutted really because I wanted to put a good result in. But it didn’t really happen. I’ve been struggling with the set-up on the forks and the first moto I was fighting the bike and I couldn’t ride like myself. And I haven’t been practising in the sand much recently.
“I put on a bit of a charge in the second race, I was quite happy with that. And then I just lost my rhythm really halfway through and that was it. Josh Gilbert passed me back and that was it. I didn’t really have anything to come back at him.
“It’s annoying because I passed him at the start of the race and I thought, right, this is happening! I tried to make a bit of a push but just went the opposite halfway through. But I’m happy I managed another season injury free.
“I want to say a massive thanks to the team for this year. I’ve really enjoyed it and I really appreciate the opportunity to race the 450 which I loved. I’ve had a brilliant time working with my mechanic Will and everyone has been great.”
In the MX2 class, Jake Nicholls had a standout day against very fast competition. Nicholls, who came out of retirement for 2024 to contest just the British MX2 championship, didn’t have a lightning start in the opener but made lots of passes in the first three laps. He then moved consistently forward despite a technical issue on the bike, and brough the CRF250R home sixth.
In the second race Nicholls made a fantastic start and rounded the first corner in third place. He was passed by title hopeful Tommy Searle as the battle for the championship raged on at the front. But Nicholls came home in fifth place, for sixth overall on the day and in the championship.
Nicholls said: “It ended up being a good day, probably my best day overall of the season so it was a nice way to finish off. In the first race, we actually had a problem with the fuelling on the bike, so I was really on the back foot but somehow managed to stick with it. I don’t really know how, but I rode well despite really struggling to keep my momentum up.
“And then the second race, I had a good start – pulled an old school tactic on the gate and it came out alright. I came out of the first corner third, but struggled a little bit with a pace after a few laps which was disappointing. I just struggled to focus.
“But I hung in there, came back a little bit at the end, and actually had a good couple of laps and got fifth. So I’m really pleased with that. And it’s been a good, a fun year. I can’t believe I finished sixth in the championship, all things considered. I’ve been on the back foot a few times with lack of preparation, as I’m a proper part-timer.
“But it’s been fun and that’s down to having good people around me and it’s a testament to the team. I just turn up here and race and go home. So thank you very much to them for that. And he team really represented Tru7 well this year, with Conrad and Taylor having some really good rides. So I’m pleased to be a part of it, pleased to finish the year off like this and healthy and I’ll definitely be back racing again next year.”
The team also welcomed a guest rider onto the Crendon Tru7 Honda CRF250R, Brazilian Bernardo Eto Tiburcio who is in the UK to race the Motocross of Nations for his country. Despite very little experience riding on sand, the six-time Brazilian champion got better as the day went on. He made a tentative start in the opener and made some passes but then fell, back to 21st. But he remounted and came through to 15th. Race two was much better as he held seventh place from the start and had a consistent race to finish ninth to finish tenth overall.
Eto Tiburcio said: “I’m here to race the Nations and will ride the Crendon Tru7 Honda which is such a good bike. I’ve never ridden a track like this before but really enjoyed learning and as I got more confident had a better result in race two.”
Team principal, triple world 500 champion Dave Thorpe said: “I’m over the moon with the day as everybody tried really hard. For Conrad, it was probably the best I’ve ever seen him ride in that first race. There are not many people that would’ve kept up with him. He was very special, very articulate on the bike and made the Crendon Tru7 Honda look amazing
“The one thing we’ve talked about is the intensity of racing and never giving him, and I was really pleased with him in the second race. It’s the first time this year that he’s led, made a small mistake, got back on and matched Jeffrey’s lap times right to the very end.
“It’s been really constructive thing for us with Jeffrey being here. And I can’t thank Conrad enough for the determination and effort he’s put in.
“It’s our last proper race with Taylor on the team. He’s been with us only for one year, but he’s done well for us. He’s had some highs and lows, and it’s difficult riding both bikes, we know that.
“And in MX2, I thought Jake was amazing today. When you know how much effort and time he gives running the Tru7 business, which is time he doesn’t have for riding, to get sixth and fifth was a great result. And we are continuing his development with our 250. The team worked really hard to make it a better bike, and I feel like we’re going in the right way. And we know the 2025 Honda CRF250R is much better. So roll on next year. It should be for a good year.
“And of course I have to give thanks to Honda UK and all our technical partners and sponsors that make it possible to go racing at this level. Without them, we couldn’t do it. So it’s a massive thanks from me to them, and of course to all the team mechanics and riders who always go the extra mile to be the best they can be.”