The Crendon Tru7 Honda team are ready to go racing in the British motocross season after successful tests on the new 2025 Honda CRF450R and CRF250R race bikes. With Conrad Mewse and his new team-mate Jamie Carpenter on the new-look Honda CRF450R machines in the MX1 class and Jake Nicholls on the all-new CRF250R in MX2, the trio rode together at Nicholls’ private track to help finalise settings on the refined red machines.

Backed by Honda UK as its official team for the 15th year, the squad’s mission in nurturing homegrown talent in British motocross continues as the whole team will contest the ACU British championship again this season. Mewse and Carpenter will also race in the Nora Pro championship which kicks off at Oxford on March 23. A week later, the British championship starts at historic Hawkstone Park.

Mewse, who has already finished runner-up in the UK Arenacross series this year despite missing the opening round, will also ride selected rounds of the world championship. The four-time British champion won the Fastest 40 championship and Weston Beach Race last season and aims to win the British title once again in 2025.

Conrad Mewse: “I wasn’t happy with finishing second in the British championship last season but I actually had one of the best years in my whole career. I went to another level, racing five-times world champion Jeffrey Herlings for the title. It made me think of how I could improve and find the extra bit to try to beat him. So it was an awesome year of racing. The new 2025 Honda is incredible - by far the best bike I’ve ever ridden and a big improvement over last year’s which was already an amazing bike. I didn’t think the bike could get any better but Honda has done it. I have a good bike and a great team of people around me. The British series starts at Hawkstone Park which I love – I love any tracks that are on the sand! There are five or six riders who could challenge for the title. I always go in wanting to win but there will be stiff competition. I perform my best under pressure.”

Bournemouth-based Carpenter, also aged 25 like Mewse, has spent months testing his 2025 Honda CRF450R in Europe and the UK and contested the pre-season Hawkstone Park International race where he ended the day as third-placed British rider.

Jamie Carpenter: “After a hectic couple of seasons it’s been so nice to get settled into riding for the past couple of months. And straight away, the bike felt just like it should. It’s a great package. It handles well, it’s fast with the power in the right places and so easy to ride. I’ve ridden around 60 hours in testing and it’s all been great fun. In the past I’ve done pretty well in the MX2 class and I am getting close to the speed I want to go in MX1. My goal is to put two good races together and get on the podium. It’s a long season so I aim to build up and get stronger through the year. I’ve been riding with Conrad and he is a level above everyone else so it’s great to learn from him. And to ride this track is amazing, as it has huge jumps but it’s safe. My previous best results have been on hard pack tracks but I love conditions like today. And it’s fantastic to be working with Dave Thorpe and the team as everything is straightforward. They know exactly what they’re doing and leave no stone unturned in getting everything ready.”

And super-experienced Nicholls, who races part-time while working as Managing Director of the Tru7 group of companies, will also contest selected Eastern Centre races as well as the full UK championship. The 34-year-old is raving about the new 250 and looking forward to racing.

Jake Nicholl: “I’m doing the British championship on the 250 which is where I started my career at age 13! I did ten years in GPs on a 250F and it suits my style as I’m quite aggressive. And I’m really impressed with a the CRF250R. It’s a better platform and Ryan has worked on so many things. A year ago I was almost aiming to get 450-style power out the 250 but I realised I really need it to rev. Ryan has a clear idea of what I want and he’s made some huge steps. The bike’s engine is better and the chassis is better, so I’m very excited. I ended last season on a high, and I knew this new bike was coming. I’ve been training hard and I feel good on the bike. It’s all about fun for me and I enjoy riding with other people – which is why I love racing, And riding today with Conrad and Jamie really gave me the buzz back.”

Team owner - Dave Thorpe: “Our goal once again is to win the British championship and we are in a fantastic position to do that with Conrad Mewse and Jamie Carpenter on the new Honda CRF450R, which is such a great machine. Both riders are loving the bike which is a leap ahead of last year’s bike. And to give Jake Nicholls the best chance of success in the MX2 series, Ryan and the team have spent a huge amount of time developing it into a seriously fast race bike this year. The 250 is all new so it’s always a lot of work to get a new bike ready for such an experienced and fast rider as Jake. And after these tests, I know he’s really impressed with the new CRF250R. We are all looking forward to a great year of racing. And I’d like to give a personal thanks to the dedication of the mechanics and our technical partners and sponsors in helping us get ready for the season ahead.”

Story and images Adam Duckworth