Crendon Tru7 Honda mounted Conrad Mewse rode a brilliant opening race today at Lyng circuit in the UK. Showing good speed and a great start, Mewse controlled the race from the front, eventually winning by a big gap. Second was Ben Watson and third Oriol Oliver. Full results here and live timing here.

Conrad Mewse: It was a solid race, first lap man, I am not used to getting the holeshot and made so many mistakes. I heard Oliver behind me, but the second lap we put a march on and smooth sailing the first race. I was trying different things towards the end, trying different lines for the second race. Its nice being at the front, rather than being roosted. The bike ripped the start and I don't see why we cannot do that again.

Ben Watson: Start is important and it was Conrad, Oriol and me and then Conrads started breaking away and I don't know if I could have followed him and I was fighting with the bike and making mistakes and stopping in the turns. I will make some changes and try and make a start. I struggle with the one day format and on tracks I haven't been to for many years. Its a lot different than MXGP.

Oriol Oliver: I lost the front on the finish straight and I wasn't feeling great, got some arm pump and the mistake cost me a lot. This track is hard to pass and you don't know the fast lines, so I tried to pass Conrad early. We will see in the second moto.

Adam Duckworth image

Mewse with the lead early in the opening 450 moto, with Oliver second, then Watson, followed by Capenter, Purdon, Hammal, Grimshaw, Durow, Husband and Wade. Oliver all over Mewse for the lead and really pushing the multi time champion. Watson a little off the leaders, but the front three miles ahead of everyone else. These front three are world level.

Mewse suddenly getting away from Oliver, with a lead of around one second, with Watson a similar distance back in third. Mewse built a 2.5 second lead over Oliver with Watson 4.5 seconds back, and Hammal into fourth, then Carpenter, Grimshaw, Durow, Husband, Wats and Bruce in 10th.

The gap from first, second and third very similar, with four seconds between each riders and Hammal in fourth a huge 25 seconds back and clearly, not in the same level as the big three in British motocross.

Around 10 minutes remaining the lead by Mewse was nine seconds over Oliver, with Watson 14 seconds off the Honda rider. Watson moved into second place as Oliver made a big mistake. Mewse 14 seconds ahead of Watson and 22 seconds ahead of Oliver. Mewse wins it from Watson and Oliver.

450 Moto One