Jamie Keith has enjoyed a promising rookie season in the MX2 British Championship class, showing strong pace and continuing to develop as he adapts to the demands of racing at a higher level. While consistency is something the young Brit knows he still needs to improve, there have been plenty of positives throughout his first year in the class. Keith made the trip across the Irish Sea to compete in the Irish Championship at the weekend, taking victory in the MX2 class while going up against the 450cc riders on a challenging and unfamiliar track. The experience provided another opportunity for him to learn, while also giving Irish fans the chance to see one of Britain’s emerging talents in action.
Away from racing, Keith has also recently started working with Conrad Mewse, gaining valuable insight from one of Britain’s leading riders. With plans already taking shape for the final British Championship round and a potential trip to Belgium with Mewse, Keith is determined to finish the season strongly.
Looking ahead to 2027, however, there remains some uncertainty. With the financial demands of racing continuing to make it difficult for privateer riders to progress, Keith admits that securing a ride for next season is crucial if he is to continue his journey in the sport. We caught up with Keith to discuss his Irish Championship experience, his rookie MX2 campaign, working with Mewse, his EMX250 outing in Arnhem, the British Championship and what the future could hold.
GateDrop: You haven’t been in Ireland in a while, this isn’t a British Championship, an Irish Championship, something completely different, but you ended up on the top step in the MX2 class. Riding against the 450 riders, something a bit different for you. First of all, did you enjoy your day, a new country, a different type of track, did you enjoy it?
Keith: It was a very good day actually, I enjoyed the track and the track was gnarly. We’ve got nothing like that back home. I don’t mind coming to Ireland, I’ve only ever been once, but I was on a 65cc for Arenacross, so I’ve never raced an outdoors in Ireland. A big thanks to Mark Galloway and the Irish Championship for inviting me and a few of the other boys over. It was a very good day and I was impressed. Hopefully we can have a British Championship here, but obviously that’s not my call but it was a good day.
GateDrop: I mean, what was it like riding against the 450s, that’s something you’re probably not used to, the Red Bull Pro Nationals used to do that all the time, but obviously that series isn’t here anymore. There’s probably a lot of roost out there, but you’re probably able to learn stuff from those guys…
Keith: You definitely learn. I mean, I spent a little bit of time behind Purdon, and I was behind Gilbert for a lap, and then obviously a few of the 450cc boys. I don’t really try and get in the mix with the 450cc boys, because I don’t really need to, but I mean, if the pass is there I’m going to try and pass to just to keep the other 250 guys away from me. But no, I enjoy riding with other riders, and it’s new riders as well. Obviously because they’re on faster bikes, it drags you along a little bit. When I was on the 125cc, I was constantly racing with 250s, and I think that’s sort of pulled me on a little bit, so racing with the 450s definitely helps. At the same time the roost is not what you want, I’m going to wake up in the morning with a few bruises, but we love it.
GateDrop: Being in MX2, I mean it’s your rookie season, sometimes we forget, you guys grow up so fast, but how would you describe your rookie season, I think it’s been very positive on the whole, I don’t think pace is an issue, you might disagree!
Keith: I think it’s definitely a positive. What I’ve achieved this year, I would have still liked to have done a little bit more, still a little bit more consistent, I think that’s where I’m lacking a little bit. That’s definitely what we need to work on in the future, but that stuff just comes in time. I mean you can’t just wake up in the morning and everything is fixed. I mean everything takes time but we’re in it for the long run. Hopefully next year I can have a good winter before the start of next year. I’ll try and do Hawkstone International, that should bring me along a little bit before the season. Hopefully we’ll try and go for the British Championship next year.
GateDrop: And just on the British Championship, there’s like three-four riders who are all quite at a similar level I would say, the good thing for you is you’re at the start of your journey, it’s your first year… but the start, is that pretty important in the British?
Keith: The start helps a lot. I think there’s probably a good eight of us that can all win a British Championship race. It’s really whoever gets out in front really, the top three who get away are going to win that race. Every time I’ve started in the top three, I’ve either stayed in the top three or won. You don’t really ever start at the front and end up outside the top five unless obviously you have a big crash or something like that. It’s definitely good doing what I’m doing in my rookie season, because obviously fair play to Charlie, he’s won pretty much everything this year, but he’s been in the class for around four years. It’s good being with the boys because it’s helps me and I’m learning. I am definitely improving week by week.
GateDrop: You’ve started working with Conrad Mewse, I don’t think that was the case at the start of this year, that’s only been like the last few months I think. What’s it been like, how did that all come about and what’s it been like working with him. He’s unbelievable in the UK and he’s got a lot of experience, so he can help guide you to the top hopefully?
Keith: At the start of this year I was just down at the workshop getting my race bike sorted and we were just talking. My mechanic Luke is his practice mechanic, so obviously a few little things got mentioned With Conrad, I think we just clicked and in the right place at the right time. He’s helped me a lot so far. I’m going on holiday which is a bit strange before the last British Championship, so I’m going on a holiday on Tuesday for a week and then I’m going to come home and then I’m going to go out to Belgium with Conrad and Luke. I will get a final week prepping ready for the last British Championship to finish that on a high.
I think being with Conrad and training with Conrad. He’s been there, he’s done a lot, so it definitely helps me and I am very grateful for what he has done for me. Hopefully we can just keep it as it is, it seems to be working.
GateDrop: I mean before you’ve seen how hard he worked, what’s the difference now that you’ve seen how hard he works, was there much of a difference, was it an eye-opener at how hard he works or not so much?
Keith: He doesn’t really post anything on social media of what he’s doing, he’ll put the odd picture on for a sponsor or something like that but I mean we were going out on the bicycle a couple of months ago and we were two hours in and I’m like jesus, are we nearly done yet?! He said no, we are just about halfway. When we got back to the van, I just dumped the bike on the floor and I’m flat out for an hour. But no he trains very very hard and it obviously pays off and you can see that week in week out with him. Hopefully we can just keep doing what we’re doing and hopefully we could be somewhat like he is and maybe be better (laughs).
GateDrop: I would have liked to see you do a few more EMX250 races, we only see you in Arnhem this year, what was the reasons for that and what was it like racing in Arnhem, I know you probably wanted to do better and all this but I mean you have to remember you’re a rookie, it was your first EMX250 race, it’s not easy, but was it nice to be back in the paddock and racing against some of the best riders in Europe?
Keith: It’s definitely good being at EMX. No one likes to go there and being in mid pack or anything like that, everyone wants to be at the front but it’s impossible, not everyone can be at the front. I think I underestimated it a little bit, I probably could have done a little bit more leading up to the round but I mean what can you do, it’s just that hindsight is a beautiful thing isn’t it? The reason why I didn’t do the full EMX250 series which is what we wanted to do is because once we started racing, MXGP starts in February in Argentina and all that… By the time all that had started, we were just overspending with stuff that we didn’t really need. By the time we sat down and tried to organize some EMX races, financially it was just not possible.
GateDrop: That leads me to my next question, have you got any plans yet, we’re likely to see you do the British, are we more likely to see you do more either GPs or EMX, would love to see you do a few more…
Keith: I haven’t got a plan yet but I do definitely need to do something soon. I sat down with my Mum and Dad a couple of weeks ago and I think the deal is really if I don’t get a ride I’m not racing next year which is sad. But the sport is just so expensive and you get no return for it really unless you’re on one of these big teams but it is what it is. I have got a few little things here and there but we’re just trying to finalize everything. Hopefully that’s not the case and we can keep on racing.
