With British hero's Billy Mackenzie, Shaun Simpson and Stephen Sword all out injuried and Tommy Searle racing in America the British contingent at Grand Prix level might just be at it's lowest level in a long, long time.

Fortunately though the four previously mentioned riders (Church, Dougan, Nicholls and Pocock) are putting in some strong rides of late.

While Nicholls finished 8th overall in the last Grand Prix in Sweden last weekend, it was also Pocock who showed big signs of improvement. At just 16 years old the Steve Dixon UTAG Yamaha rider finished in 15th overall, slightly better than his 16th overall at the Grand Prix of France a month earlier.

Having spent the 2008 season fighting to qualify, this version of Pocock is very much a newer and better version. Like his countryman Nicholls he is looking more aggressive and actually racing with the riders around him rather than just surviving. We had to sit down with Pocock and ask him about his season so far.

Q: Mel how did your season begin?

Pocock: The season started on a low because I broke my wrist, I had to take nine weeks out, and then I had trouble with ligaments in my hands. I cased a jump and it bent my hands so far back that is snapped my arm and once that was finished the first race back was the Grand Prix of Netherlands at Valkenswaard, which was pretty hard core for me. I was running in the points until the last corner of the last lap, and then I hit the dirt.

Q: What happened with that crash sounds like you got nervous?

Pocock: I hit a small post about 50 meters from the finish line and I crashed, and I hit this post and hit my head, the bike cart wheeled onto me and knocked me out. I looked up and saw the finish line flag being waved for me, and was able to get up and finish in 22nd, and then pass out on the other side of the finish line. I was on my own, not even racing anyone, talk about shooting myself in the head, but the positive was I was running in the points, and now I know I can do that. I couldn't go out for the second moto, because I had a concussion.

Q: How did you recover from that disappointment?

Pocock: My next race was a British Championship race and I scored my first top six, which put me on a high for the next weekends Grand Prix. I felt that I was improving in the GP series and I had never finished a Grand prix before, but once I finished my first Grand Prix the mechanics got some champagne out, next task was some points, and that is my goal. I brought that goal to reality with an 18th in the first race and a 13th in the second race of the Grand Prix of France at Ernee. So I was really happy with that, I backed it up with a 13th, and everyone in the team was stoked. That gave me some confidence and that is what I needed to build on this.

Q: So things started picking up for you?

Pocock: After that we went to Germany and a real old school, fast GP track, didn't suit my style really, it was just balls out, on the throttle, I prefer technical, a bit like Ernee. I crashed pretty hard in the first moto there, but still kept my spot, I think it was 22nd or something, I have been so close to getting points, I got overtaken in the last lap in Spain, I was 19th, but got passed on the last lap and finished 21st or something. I am getting closer, so that is okay. For me now it's just keep finishing races.

Q: Latvia I have never seen you so pumped, and looking so aggressive, but then you faded?

Pocock: Latvia was a good circuit, but it was so hot there and I really have trouble when it's hot. I am ginger and fare skinned. I was 10th in Latvia and fighting with Guarneri and some other good guys and I came to the 30 minute mark and the heat got to me. It's hard because I am ginger. It's always been hard for me in the heat. I was running with some good guys, like Aubin, Guarneri, and Frossard. To run with those guys and actually race with those guys, that was great, pushing them. I passed Aubin, passed Guarneri and he passed me back, then I passed him back, I passed Teillet. I was right up there, doing what I want to do and racing with those guys. I also had a great start.

Q: What is your goal now?

Pocock: If I am not in the points then I need to just keep going around. It's a big improvement from last year where I was struggling to qualify, feeling down about myself, but now I can do the motos and put good laps together. I am now just under 40 seconds from first place, but I am 29th, and what races I do, like British Championship, if you are 40 second down on the leader you are fifth, here you are at the back of the pack. I am racing the best riders in the world and I am 16 years old and keeping my head above water.