Once again full supported by Honda UK as its official British motocross team for the 16th consecutive season, the squad is run by team principal Dave Thorpe, Britain’s most successful motocross racer and a three-time 500cc world champion with Honda, plus team manager Ryan Thorpe. The team will continue its focus on the revamped ACU British championship in 2026 where the three full-time riders will contest all rounds, as well as the British Masters series. The riders will also contest selected national and international races, when it fits in with their British campaigns. All four riders tested their final-spec race bikes this week in the run up to the opening British championship round on March 15 at Hawkstone Park.
Last year Mewse clinched his fifth ACU British championship, with a round to go on his Crendon Tru7 Honda CRF450R. After the season he had surgery to repair long-standing issues in his hips but has been back on the bike and training hard both in the UK and on the Continent.
Mewse said: “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 tide 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.”
His team-mate Carpenter was having his best ever MX1 season in 2025 until he went down at the Preston Docks British championship round, unable to avoid two riders who crashed on a jump right front of him. He had reconstructive surgery on his knee so was out of action for the rest of the season. He started riding and training in the new year and is keen to get on the podium this season.
Carpenter said: “Last year I put in lots of work and started solidly, sitting fourth in the British championship then got tangled up with same riders and came down on my knee. I tore ligaments, had surgery and spent months recovering.
“I started riding five months after my ACL reconstruction. I took it easy and have been ramping it up since then, including a trip to Spain. The set-up of the race bike is pretty much the same as last year so it’s been easier to get riding.
“I know my speed is there already but bike time and fitness isn’t where I want to be right now. But I just want to make it right through the season this year. It would be nice to get on the podium so my plan is to get good starts and be consistent.”
Nicholls – a former GP rider and now Tru7 Group’s managing director –races part time and will be back at selected races in 2026 that fit with his work commitments. He is helping develop a special 400cc version of the Honda CRF450R.
In a last-minute change, 17-year-old Richmond moves across from the S Briggs Commercials Honda team to contest the British MX2 series for the Crendon Tru7 squad, making his move to the CRF250R after successfully racing two-strokes last season in the youth ranks. He clinched the British championship and was second in a moto at the World Junior championship as well as contesting five EMX125 European rounds.
Richmond said: “I raced a 125 last year for S Briggs Commercials and they really helped me out – it’s like a big family. I was going to ride for the Briggs team again in 2026 on the CRF250R with some help from the Crendon Tru7 team but then I got the opportunity to join the full team. Dave Thorpe is a former world champ and I have been on some of his academy training days so it’s so cool to be on his team. It’s a dream. I look up to the team and to the riders on the team.
“When I got on the 250 I enjoyed it right from the start. I was only 57kg so the weight of the bike was a bit of an issue at first but it’s fast. I have been riding Jake Nicholls’ race bike from 2025 which is a great bike but today was trying a new engine package and this is the next step.
“It’s great to ride with Conrad, Jamie and Jake and they’ll help me along. I have no expectations for results this year, just focus on myself and see how we go. But top ten at the opening round would be very nice, then go from there.”
Team manager Ryan Thorpe said: “It’s been great to get all the riders together today and ride the new race bikes which is a culmination of a lot of hard work from the whole Crendon Tru7 team, our technical partners and sponsors. We have some new partners such as HGS exhausts and ARC levers, and the bikes are even better.
“With our goal being to win the British MX1 championship, we have incredible riders like Conrad and Jamie on the Honda CRF450R, and we know we will be highly competitive across the whole season. With both riders coming off periods of recovery from surgery, combined with the terrible weather in the UK, they are both not where they’d like to be in terms of time on the bikes but it’s a long season and both are dedicated professionals. They know what it takes and are willing to put all the hard work in.
“It’s also fantastic that Jake is back riding with the team, this time in MX1. And we are looking forward to spending time working with such a rising talent as Charlie Richmond. It’s a huge credit to Spencer Briggs of S Briggs Commercial to allow Charlie to join our team at such short notice. Spencer is a true fan of the sport and dedicated to bringing on young riders and we appreciate what he does.”
Spencer Briggs, boss of the S Briggs Commercial Honda team, said: “When I got the call asking if Charlie could join the Crendon Tru7 team, I was very happy for him and of course agreed straight away to let him go. It’s a great opportunity for him. My mission is to bring on young talent, and we’d never stand in their way of moving up to the next level.
“Like all the riders who race for me, Charlie is not only a great rider with incredible potential but is the complete package – professional, respectful and dedicated. I’m sure he will continue to grow and improve.”