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British Championship

Viewpoint: Conrad Mewse

Conrad Mewse on a few topics.

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Conrad Mewse has been discussed a lot recently, following some difficult MXGP rounds and then the penalty that he was handed at the third round of the Maxxis British Championship. Mewse was, fortunately, happy to discuss all of that in a post-race interview on MX Vice. This interview was originally posted as a podcast elsewhere on the site.

MX Vice: Third overall, which obviously is not what you want or deserve really, because there was a penalty in the first race. Just kind of talk us through your day, how that all happened and what you think of it.

Conrad Mewse; Yeah, it’s been a rough day. Qualifying started good – I had first. Then started off in the first race, I came off the start and got an okay start. Coming into the second turn I just completely lost my back brake. Everything was gone. They were not a single bit working. So I had to ride the whole first race with just my front brake, which was really tough around this track. I managed to salvage third. Then obviously came back to the van and it was the poor decision of the ACU to dock me. There was not a lot I could do, unless they wanted me to grab a handful of front brake on the takeoff of a jump and then there would be more waved yellows.

It was tough. It was a bit of an annoying decision, but it happened to a couple of us and it is what it is. In the second race, I was looking forward to a really good start and really getting going. I got stuck in the gate. I was quite stuck, actually, it took me a few times to get it out and by that time they were around the first turn, everyone. I put a charge on and I got to the front pretty quick, actually. I was pretty happy with my riding. I got to the front and then just cruised home for the win.

So, overall, it was an okay weekend. Obviously I lost my undefeated streak, but if it had just gone with the rear-brake problem in the first race I would have won the overall. So that decision kind of messed me up a little bit, but it is what it is. Hopefully I can continue the form into Latvia.

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Conrad Mewse had a tough day, but extended his advantage by a point.

MPS Images

With the penalty, did you get a chance to fight your corner? Did you get a chance to show them that you did not have a rear brake and prove that it was a safe decision to do what you did or were they just not interested? You just got told, “here is your penalty, deal with it” afterwards?

Yeah. We went up there, me and the team, just to show them the back brake, but they just were not interested at all. There were a couple of people out there who I think put the complaint in and I will not forget that. But, like I said, it is what it is. There is not a lot we can do. I think there were actually a few more people that jumped it than actually got noticed. But hopefully they get called out and then we can get back on track.

Do you actually care about your undefeated streak? Obviously it looks good and you kind of kept it going in the second moto, even though you got caught in the gate, which proved you can do it no matter what. Do you care?

Not really, to be honest. That was not what I was thinking coming into the weekend. I was just literally, obviously this is practice for the GPs for me, so I am just trying my hardest in every race. But, like I said, the undefeated streak is no fault of my own. There is nothing I can do about that. It is out of my hands. If I was riding bad and then got beat straight up then, yeah, fair enough. I would be a bit disappointed, but I showed in the second race that I hit the gate and then came from last to first. Hopefully we can carry on the way we are and get back to the front.

I have got to ask about GPs. Obviously Portugal was not great, but then at Canada Heights you said that you realised it was a problem with you and you had fixed it. Russia was not great either though. What is going on there and how do you sort of view all of that?

I am struggling a bit in the GPs, to be honest. Portugal and Russia were not great, but I have got my worst GPs out the way now. These first few GPs are really the ones I hate, so I am glad they are out the way and Latvia is next. I am looking forward to getting out there. For sure, I can almost guarantee I will be back up there in Latvia.

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Conrad Mewse expects to turn his MXGP campaign around at Kegums.

MPS Images

Is it actually a problem or do you just think once you get on a sand track, a track that you have done well on in the past, you are going to go in with confidence and that will just sort you right out?

No, there is not a certain problem that’s causing all this. I am just a little bit not riding like myself in places like Russia and Portugal and things like that. So I am struggling a bit. But, like I said, for sure we’ll be back up there in Latvia.

I guess starts have something to do with it as well, because obviously no one came through in Russia. We even saw it with Max [Anstie]. He was great in the qualifying race, but did not get good starts on Sunday and then could not make progress. I guess had you started fifth, you probably would have stayed there.

Yeah, definitely. It was a very fast track. It was a bit like Argentina actually. It was quite tough. For some reason it was about thirty degrees outside, but for both of our races it was a mud race. They put so much water down before the races and it was just… First lap we got plastered. Then it was just hard to get into the rhythm with riding the dry track at the end of the race, but it is what it is. I am putting these two weekends in the past and we are going to get back out there.

Finally, are you actually enjoying coming here? I guess it is good. You have a bad GP or whatever, but you can come here, win a moto, and kind of get a bit of confidence back. But then you only raced on Tuesday, so you must be a bit knackered.

Yeah. It is a tough season for me. We have got a lot of races. There are about thirty races on the calendar. It is pretty tough. We are resting up as much as we can in-between. We are getting our work done in the week and we are putting one hundred percent effort in, so the results will come soon.

Interview: Lewis Phillips | Lead Image: MPS Images

British Championship

Bickers to supply UK market with Alpinestars

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This is great news for UK motocross dealers, who can now order Alpinestars Boots and Protection for the motocross and enduro community.

Full PR:
Bickers are pleased to announce a new partnership with Alpinestars, from 2024 Bickers will be a
newly appointed distributor of Alpinestars Off-Road range of MX, Enduro and Trials footwear and
protections.

Alpinestars has been redefining protection for motorcyclists ever since the company was established
in 1963. Commitment to innovation has led Alpinestars to become the world-leading manufacturer
of professional motorsport racing products, motorcycling airbag protection, high-performance
apparel, technical footwear, and helmets. Alpinestars understands that the best design and research
is achieved under extreme conditions. Their involvement in Formula 1, NASCAR, MotoGP, World
SBK, AMA Supercross and Motocross, MXGP, Dakar and more has led to the creation of the most
advanced technical equipment for the racing world’s top athletes.

Bickers and Alpinestars will be working together in the UK and Ireland (via Bickers Dornan) to create
an industry leading integrated sales program, reaching the Bickers dealer network; carrying stock in
2 strategic locations in the UK and Ireland to ensure next day delivery on all items.
Stock is in the UK and available now, to see the range visit alpinestars.com or bickers-online.co.uk.

Chris Hillard (Alpinestars Communications Manager)

Alpinestars are pleased to welcome Bickers as a distributor of our MX/Off-Road range in the UK and
Ireland. With their proven record in offering next day service to dealers; we see Bickers as a logical
partner to add to our already strong network of Dealers and Distributors in the region. With focus on
offering keystone hard goods from our range; namely Footwear and Protection. Central to our plan,
inside July/August 2024 Bickers will also become an Official Alpinestars repair and service center for
MX Goods, with the aim of increasing efficiency for our UK/Ireland based racers and customers
moving ahead, and we look forward to developing this partnership.

Derek McMartin (Bickers)
“Bickers are extremely excited to be able to service and sell Alpinestars Range of Off-Road Footwear
and Protection and cannot wait to start offering these great products to our dealers”
To see what Bickers offer, please go to bickers-online.co.uk
You can visit the Full Range at Alpinestars direct alpinestars.com.

Picture – KTM Group

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Breaking News

NPC 2024 IS ON! All eyes are on Oakhanger.

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Oakhanger will host the first round of the NPC series this weekend. Gulf Racing Fuels, which will support the series for the next three years, will be in attendance. The line looks impressive, while entry lists are still being worked on. Starting a series from scratch is always hard, but trying to do that in a recession and with industry budgets at an all-time low is even more challenging. The guys behind the NPC have been working around the clock to make this happen.

MX1 and MX2 classes will provide some exciting racing with this at the weekend. MX1 will see Tristan Purdon, Brad Todd, Jamie Carpenter, Carlton Husband, Tom Grimshaw, John Adamson, Dan Thornhill, Chalie Putnam, and Aaron Patstone lining up. MX2 will offer some great racing with Charlie Cole, Charlie Heyman, Ollie Colmer, Ben Mustoe, Glen McCormick, Callum Mitchell, Syd Putnam, Ben Franklin, Harvey Cashmore and Liam Bennet all looking to get some hours in the bank racing.

Justin Barclay and Alfie Smith have produced a stunning track for riders to compete on. As I’m typing this update, more British riders are signing up, and they will be confirmed every day leading up to what will be a historical event. I say historical because I believe this series will go from strength to strength and offer one of the best championships in the UK and, hopefully, Europe.

The Acerbis is cancelled this weekend, so places at the NPC are filling up fast. There are four groups, and wildcards are still available in each group.

Entries for the event can be accessed here: https://nora92.com/event/nora-pro-championship-round-1/#tribe-tickets

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British Championship

Andrew Short confirmed for the 2024 VMXdN at Foxhill

No Short measures for Team USA

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The promoters for the annual VMXdN Foxhill have announced that former factory HRC, KTM Factory Racing and Monster Energy Yamaha rider Andrew Short will be racing at the legendary Wiltshire Grand Prix circuit over August bank holiday weekend (August 22nd-26th) as part of the American squad.


Words: Press Release | Lead Image: Supplied


Short has had a stellar sixteen-year pro career, during that time, he earned over 50 podium finishes and nine wins, he is also one of the nicest guys you could wish to meet. One of his personal highlights was being part of the American Team that won the 2010 Motocross of Nations held in his home state of Colorado. 

After he retired from professional motocross at the end of 2016, Short then worked as a team advisor and brand ambassador for Factory Honda HRC before making a big transition to compete in rally racing and take on the ultimate rally race – the Dakar.

After a steep learning curve, he was able to become competitive in rally and even took his first win at the 2019 Rallye du Maroc, a leadup to the 2020 Dakar. He raced for the Rockstar Husqvarna team as well as the Monster Energy Factory Yamaha rally teams.

After a nasty injury while riding at home, he is now back to full fitness and bang up for the challenge that is Foxhill, the greatest 2-stroke event in the world. Short will race a 2002 YZ 250 built and maintained by the crew at DocWob. Team USA won the inaugural event in 2022 and finished 3rd behind Team GB and Team Northern Ireland in 2023. 

The race is already creating a huge buzz with new and returning legends being announced weekly, it really is a whos’ who of the sport through the golden heydays of the 90’s and 00’s era.

Labelled by RacerX magazine as “the Woodstock of two strokes” the event simply goes from strength to strength.

With ticket sales up year on year, the promoters have been blown away at the response to the event and are urging spectators to purchase tickets asap. Could this be the first outdoor motocross event in the UK to be ticket only? Camping passes will be capped at last year’s numbers as simply putting it – it was full!

Ensure your place at the most anticipated event on the British MX calendar by booking early.

Saturday, Sunday, Weekend and Camping passes are available at https://vmxdnfoxhill2024.eventbrite.co.uk

Keep up to date with all the VMXdN Foxhill news

www.vmxdnfoxhill.com 

www.facebook.com/vmxdnfoxhills 

https://www.instagram.com/vmxdnfoxhill/

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