Conrad Mewse heads into the 2026 season looking to defend his Motul ACU British MX1 title and add to his five British titles already to his name, but it has been a quiet winter for the rider who usually thrives on getting in as much bike time as possible during the winter months.
Last year, he secured his fifth ACU British Motocross Championship with a round to spare aboard the Crendon Tru7 Honda CRF450R, underlining both his consistency and outright pace across all track conditions. It was another composed campaign built on strong starts, controlled rides and the ability to manage a championship when it mattered.
The off-season, however, was about long-term performance rather than immediate results. Mewse underwent surgery to address ongoing hip issues that had been affecting him for some time. The priority was recovery and building back properly rather than rushing into winter races. Since then, he has returned to riding and stepped up his preparation both in the UK and overseas as he works towards round one.
READ MORE: BRITISH MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP NEWS
The Crendon Tru7 Honda squad retains Mewse as its lead MX1 rider for 2026, again contesting the British Championship and the British Masters series, alongside team mates Jamie Carpenter and Charlie Richmond. The focus around Mewse remains unchanged — delivering results in the domestic championship.
Speaking ahead of the MXGB opener at Hawkstone Park on the 15th March, Mewse explained his winter and outlook:
“I had a quiet winter to get my health sorted. It was nice to have a break but now I’m back on the bike, hungry to ride and motivated. I’m in the full swing of things, feeling great and with the first British round in a couple of weeks, hopefully start where we left off as I was in great form at the end of last year.
“This year there are a lot of sand races so that’s nice for me. Hawkstone is round one and is somewhere I enjoy riding. I know there will be more top riders this season, like Ben Watson, but every year you have some great rivals. I’m just focusing on myself and my own riding. I aim to perform at 100% and do my best.
“Today was the first time on the new race bikes and they felt great, as normal. The team always do a fantastic job on the bikes. My main focus is the British championship, then the Masters series. I’m looking to have a busy year and have do as much racing as possible, I want to be very active and do a lot of racing as that’s what I love.”
With a calendar that includes several sand-based venues — traditionally one of Mewse’s strengths — and increased depth in the MX1 field, the season ahead should be an interesting one, and one where
For Mewse, the objective is straightforward: stay fit, execute at 100 percent and build the championship from round one.
Images courtesy of Crendon Tru7 Honda
