KTM UK sign Graeme Irwin and Conrad Mewse for 2018
By Press Release on 30th Oct 17
British Motocross Championship Graeme Irwin Conrad Mewse
Graeme Irwin and Conrad Mewse will lead the way for Roger Magees KTM UK-backed team for a full-on assault in the 2018 FIM Motocross World Championship and the ACU British Motocross Championship.
Magees team is no stranger to victory and the new rider line-up, announced at the International Dirt Bike Show at Stoneleigh Park is a formidable pairing for chasing more silverware. Founded in 2005, the outfit is the most successful in the British series and has won an incredible 11 titles the majority with KTM and the most recent coming this year, courtesy of Ben Watson as British MX2 champion on the KTM 250 SX-F.
Reigning British MX1 champion, Graeme Irwin, 25, moves to KTM for a chance to participate in the MXGP Championship for the first time along with defending the No.1 plate in the UK series. The Carrickfergus-born rider is relishing the chance to compete in Grand Prix and to ride the World Championship-winning KTM 450 SX-F.
Irwin said: My goals for the season are to retain the British championship and to start the year in MXGP in the top 15 and progress to the top 10. Im really excited to ride the 450 SX-F as Tony Cairoli and Jeffrey Herlings have been so strong this season and KTM is a brand is constantly pushing their products forward; theyre the market leader for a reason.
I will go to California in a couple of weeks and start riding over there. Ill focus on my physical training and attack it hard in January. I prepared myself this year like I was going to be riding in GPs and Ive raced some guys who are already in that class. Ill move to Belgium to make sure my training is the best it can be for this season. Bring it on!
Conrad Mewse will be tasked with the teams MX2 attack in both Grand Prix and the British championship. Since his 2013 World and British 85cc championships titles, the 18-year-old has had a rapid rise through categories and the #426 competed his first season of Grand Prix this year, finishing 16th overall with 225 points.
Mewse said: Im looking forward to starting a new page in my career and returning to KTM. It feels like Im coming back home as Ive had a lot of success with the brand in the past. Im hoping together we will be able to fulfil some of my future goals and the KTM 250 SX-F is no doubt a weapon their bikes have never disappointed me.
Next season will also be my first season in the British Motocross Championship. Ive not raced a British series since my 65 and 85cc days, so it is going to be a learning curve for sure. Theres going to be a lot of races with doing MX2 in both Grand Prix and the UK, but Ive had a month off and Im fully recovered from this season. The plan is to train hard over winter and come out of the blocks fast.
Helping to make sure Roger Magees squad is more ready to race than ever, they will also receive increased Factory support from KTM in 2018.
Further announcements on the teams sponsors will be made in the coming weeks.
