Fastest 40 Foxhill MX1 Report
By Dick Law on 23rd Apr 24
Crendon Tru7 Honda’s Conrad Mewse dominated the Apico Pro MX1 races at the opening round of the 2024 Motul Fastest 40, powered by Michelin series which was held at Foxhill near Swindon.
Mewse and his teammate Taylor Hammal filled the top two spots in the timed qualifying session with Apico Honda’s Martin Barr third.
At the start of race one Mewse got the holeshot and controlled the race from the front. Tristan Purdon (SC Sporthomes Husqvarna) and Jason Meara (Moto-Cycle GASGAS) had gated second and third and both riders stayed near Mewse for the first half of the race but eventually, he edged away to cross the finish line almost eight seconds clear of Purdon with Meara third.
Barr spent all race in a lonely fourth place, while Hammal, after a first-lap crash and another later in the race, came from 15th to fifth in his usual flamboyant style.
Tom Murphy (GRM Apico Yamaha) started fifth but slipped back a bit as the pace of the leaders hotted up. Grimshaw didn’t get the start he was looking for but fought his way past Murphy on lap three and looked set for a fifth-place finish until Hammal snatched it from him with four laps to go.
Jamie Carpenter (Dirt Store Kawasaki) and Dan Thornhill (Chambers GASGAS) seemed to spend the race close to each other and finished seventh and eighth.
Purdon got the holeshot at the start of race two, but Mewse took the lead from him by the end of the third lap. Hammal had a better start and rounded the first turn in third place and by lap six, he had passed Purdon and set off after Mewse. He closed the gap a couple of times, but Mewse was doing just enough to stay in front.
Once again, Barr spent the whole of the race in fourth, and if you look at the lap charts, he didn’t overtake anyone or be passed by anyone all day. Grimshaw passed Thornhill on lap one on his way to fifth place, while Meara, after a not-so-good start, came home sixth.
Overall, it was Mewse from Purdon and Hammal, with Barr missing out on the podium and Meara slipping down to fifth overall because of his bad start in race two.
“I have had a very good start to this series because we have started where we left off last season,” said a happy Mewse. “I started this year with an injury, so I am easing my way back into racing.
“I was racing my pit board today and not worrying about anyone else – just my lap times. I thought I rode well but there is still a lot of room for improvement, which we will work on throughout the rest of the year. The time off wasn’t ideal but it means I will be fresh for the rest of the season.”
“I am more than happy to come away from here with second overall, especially with Conrad Mewse in the race,” said runner-up Tristan Purdon. “It's great to ride with him and see if I can learn anything I can use next weekend. I would like to thank the team for all they do for me. It's been a good day.”
Apico Pro MX1
| 1 | Conrad Mewse | Crendon Tru7 Honda | 25 + 25 = 50 |
| 2 | Tristan Purdon | SC Sporthomes Husqvarna | 22 + 20 =42 |
| 3 | Taylor Hammal | Crendon Tru7 Honda | 16 + 22 = 38 |
| 4 | Martin Barr | Apico Factory Honda Racing | 18 + 18 = 36 |
| 5 | Jason Meara | Moto-Cycle GASGAS | 20 + 15 = 35 |
| 6 | Tom Grimshaw | Apico Factory Honda Racing | 15 + 16 = 31 |
| 7 | Brad Todd | DK Off-Road Honda | 12 + 14 = 26 |
| 8 | Dan Thornhill | Chambers GASGAS | 13 + 13 = 26 |
| 9 | Jamie Carpenter | Dirt Store Kawasaki | 14 + 11 = 25 |
| 10 | Sam Nunn | John Banks Honda | 11 + 10 = 21 |
