Conrad Mewse - 2019

Roger Magee of Hitachi KTM UK has often done wonders for his riders. On many occasions Magee has picked up a rider when it seems his chances of good results are not that there, and he has transformed them into winners. Having brought riders like Shaun Simpson, Ben Watson, Kevin Strijbos and many more to the GP scene, under his KTM UK banner, Magee knows that his MX2 rider, Conrad Mewse has all the potential to be a contender, and as early as 2019.

“He still has some work to do on the mental side,” Magee said. “But I do see progress. This year if we were at a track that had been watered a lot, he struggled early and the pack is then gone, and by the end of the race he is often one of the quickest on the track. He is very similar to a lot of riders we pick up, riders who are maybe struggling with other teams, where things were not going well. Similar to Strijbos in 2012 when he wasn’t looking that great and it seemed his career was nearly over, then he did well with us, won the British championship and I think finished sixth in the World, and eventually got back on the factory Suzuki team. Same with Simpson, he had some good years, then back in the doldrums, came back to us, won two British championship and a couple of GP rounds. Conrad has had a year to settle down in the team and 2019 we expect him to do well.”

Mewse who in his junior days beat guys like 2018 MX2 World Champion Jorge Prado, and 2017 Monster Energy FIM MXoN MX2 overall winner Hunter Lawrence, is more than capable of running with the likes of Prado in his professional career. Progression has somewhat been slow for the young British rider, but he too expects 2019 to be his come-out season, a where he once again wants to be a contender.

“I am not setting my sights too high,” Mewse said. “I haven’t even finished in the top ten yet, and missed six rounds this year. I am looking at going out there and getting inside the top ten, inside the top six, on a regular basis. Put in some consistent rider and finish inside the top five in the championship. I am doing a lot of training at the moment, flat out in the gym, doing a lot of cardio. We are getting back on the bike, just once a week and having a bit of fun and not pushing too hard. January we will do some solid riding and training overseas, getting the bike set-up, and be fully prepared for that first round of the GPs.”

So now with a few months to prepare and with good health on his side, don’t be surprised to see the rider with 426 on his bike race closer to the front, and possibly even make some podium appearances. A strong off-season and some work on his confidence could see Mewse once again producing the results we all expected when he arrived on the GP scene a few years ago.

Author:

Geoff Meyer