Sensational Mewse conquers all! 2024 Rhayader Evening Motocross – Race Report & Results

Evening motocross returned to Rhayader on Wednesday as one of the Welsh motocross calendar’s most keenly anticipated events returned with a bang.

Race Report by Chris Czora – Images by Gary Jones Photography

A huge crowd of over 3000 spectators lined the course at Cwmythig Hill, with the spectacular hillside track in perfect condition. Since the event returned to the calendar in 2019, it has got bigger and better, with renewed spectator and sponsor interest helping the event return to its former glory at the excellent Cwmythig Hill circuit, which continues to gain improvements.

Spectators this year were treated to improved off-track facilities, with a hardstanding paddock area next to the track allowing them to see most of the circuit. The venue will serve as one of the focal points for the upcoming Enduro Grand Prix of Wales, with improved access roads and paddock buildings also in place.

Cwmythig Hill has a real mixture of spectacular jumps and tricky off-cambered hillside terrain and is a real favourite with spectators. Even as early as 5:30 p.m., when the practice sessions got underway, some of the popular vantage points were filling up, with the hardworking Rhayader Motor Club volunteers getting the increasing number of spectator vehicles parked on site.

The Rhayader Motor Club were once again able to boast an impressive lineup of Pro riders for the event, with reigning British Champion Conrad Mewse arguably the pre-event favourite, amongst a star lineup including Adam Sterry in a rare UK appearance, the returning Tommy Searle, Dan Thornhill, John Adamson and Taylor Hammill amongst the star names, joined by Rhayader newcomer Joel Rizzi along with a welcome late entry of Dylan Walsh.

As the event’s resident DJ Francis Brad played the classic start tune ‘Hells Bells’ to signal the start of the Pro/Expert race, it was initially one of the local stars, Ray Rowson, who grabbed the early lead, but Conrad Mewse very quickly fought to the lead and controlled the early race from the front. Dan Thornhill also got away well and soon charged to catch with Mewse, as Adam Sterry, Tommy Searle and Dylan Walsh fought through from difficult starts to occupy the first leading positions.

Thornhill was able to stay close enough to keep the pressure on Mewse, but it wasn’t to be enough as the Somerset rider held on to win the race just over two seconds from Thornhill, with Sterry fighting through to third.

Ray Rowson managed to stay with the Pro contenders to finish eighth and win the Expert class from Sam Davies and Jonathan Roderick-Evans.

Rowson, a former Pro class winner at Cwmythig Hill, rolled back the years with another great holeshot in moto two, but again it was Conrad Mewse who grabbed the early lead, with Adam Sterry this time getting a much better start, squeezing past Rowson into second place and chasing after Mewse.

John Adamson, who had fallen in the first moto, had a much better start and settled into a close battle with Tommy Searle for third place, with Jayden Ashwell, who had a solid evening’s racing, sitting in the top five and battling with Dan Thornhill whilst Dylan Walsh served as the lead MX2 rider, also wowing the crowd with his signature jumping style.

Much like the opening moto, Mewse was able to withstand the pressure, this time from Sterry, whose late charge was hampered by encountering backmarkers on the final lap. Tommy Searle emerged as the victor of the battle for third, Ashwell and Thornhill chasing, whilst a notable ride came from Taylor Hammal, who got to the line with seconds remaining due to mechanical issues yet finished eighth.

Holeshot man Rowson was tenth and lead Expert, with Josh Greedy fighting through this time to send Sam Davies third.

The final Pro / Expert race was almost a copy of the second at the front, with Rowson grabbing another impressive holeshot, but both Mewse and Sterry getting past early.

With the Rhayader circuit approaching perfect condition, line choice was important as Mewse controlled from the front to win the clean sweep, with Sterry attempting to search out some alternatives to try and close the gap. John Adamson and Taylor Hammal enjoyed a close battle for third, keeping the pressure on Sterry as they fought to the line. Meanwhile, Dan Thornhill didn’t quite get the start but rode through well to round out the top five.

Ray Rowson again enjoyed some battles with the Pro Riders and eventually took the Expert class victory, although this time Sam Davies was a lot closer, chasing him to the kind in second, Greedy close by in third, having enjoyed a good battle earlier on with Joel Rizzi.

The final race of the night was the traditional ‘Dash for Cash,’ in which the leading Pro and Expert riders competed in a ten-minute sprint with plenty of cash prizes on offer.

Mewse had already enjoyed a lucrative evening and was determined to round out his evening with another victory as he blasted to the holeshot.

Sterry was narrowly behind him and determined to snatch victory, but his night ended just a few seconds later as he went down at the top of the hill whilst flying through the Cwmythig Hill wave section.

It was a nasty-looking crash as the spectators nervously watched, but a winded Sterry was not injured and, although out of the race, managed to tour back to the pits to the appreciation of the crowd.

With Sterry gone, Mewse was able to control the sprint race, however John Adamson and Taylor Hammal were enjoying a close battle and started to reel in Mewse as the race went on.

With two laps to go, the second-place battle reached a flashpoint as Hammal stormed down the inside of Adamson in a bold, bar-banging move to snatch second. Adamson wasn’t going to take such a move lying down however, and immediately set off after Hammal on the penultimate lap, re-taking the position two corners later. Hammal was determined to hold on, but the riders tangled, Hammal going down, although not seriously, remounting to finish sixth.

Adamson still felt pressure from Tommy Searle but remained in second. However, while the pressure was still on Mewse, he managed to hold his pace to secure the win.

There were two other race classes in the 10-race evening programme, with spectators treated to some close action.

In the Clubman / Vets race, Alfie Crealock-Lovell enjoyed a close battle with local star Jamie Powell, who emerged as the Veterans winner.

Powell actually enjoyed some good starts to lead the race, but Crealock-Lovell managed to get to the front for the Clubman victory, with a blistering holeshot in moto three securing the verdict.

Harry Bebb had the local crowd cheering as he stormed through to second in the opening two Clubman races, however a fall in the final moto relegated him to third overall.

The second spot went to Lee Clarkson, the Clubman frontrunner in the Bridgestone British Masters, enjoying a close battle with his championship compatriots Joe Sargent and Matt Jones in a closely fought final moto.

Kalem Hicks was near the front all evening and took a comfortable second overall in the Vets. However, third was a little closer cut with some very close racing between Tim Foreman, who eventually snatched the verdict after some close racing alongside Timothy Warnes, Nathan Davies and Carl Searles, who along with brother Craig, were also raising publicity for their ‘Searles2Dakar’ attempt to compete in the 2025 Dakar Rally.

The final race category saw the top Ladies in action alongside a Novice class, with a Local Beginners category also a little further back.

There was plenty of action in this race, with Kyle Noble and Joshua Herbert both getting wins, Herbert eventually emerging as the Novice winner. Joe Field didn’t quite get the starts but showed great tenacity to fight through into third overall from Brody Biggs and the fast-stating Jack Little.

However, the overall winner on the night was Tanisha Thomas, who stormed to the front with some fantastic holeshots and, although unfortunate to narrowly miss out on a victory, saw her good consistency get her to the top of the Lady’s podium. She was joined by Ria Truman, who fought through to fifth in the closely contested final moto, whilst Rheanna Morgan-Rogers battled closely with Hollie Roberts to snatch the final podium spot.

The Local Beginners saw Josh Bradley recover from a couple of early falls to fight through and narrowly take the victory from Wayne Vaughan.

As the meeting drew to a close, a sizeable number of spectators stayed on to enjoy the trackside bar and greet the prize winners, with the club providing camping for those who wished to stay.

Tommy Searle was happy with his third and looking forward to his coaching session on-site the next day, which was well-subscribed by future local stars.

The Rhayader evening motocross is certainly back with a bang. The strength of the rider lineups is joined by spectator numbers last seen in the early millennium heyday.

We look forward to the 2025 edition, but as some of the impressive building work taking place at the venue would attest, we eagerly look forward to the Enduro GP of Wales arriving at Rhayader in August.

Results

Dash for Cash

Pro/Expert – Race 1

Pro/Expert – Race 2

Pro/Expert – Race 3

Pro Overall

Expert Overall

Clubman

Vets

Ladies

Local Beginners

Novice