Riding for the Steve Dixon Yamaha team Pocock has show good progress in the last couple of years and has become one of Britain’s best riders on the FIM World Motocross Championship series. We decided to sit down with him and ask how his season has gone to date.

MXlarge: Mel, can you tell me how you feel about your season to date?

Pocock: Season started pretty well, I am scoring points in a lot of races now, I see myself as a top twenty rider, so that is real good. Best race I had was a 13^th in Portugal and I was really pleased with that I was only a few steps off the top ten. Unfortunately I crashed in Germany and hurt my neck; I was still suffering in Latvia from that. I dealt with it.

MXlarge: You have made that step to top twenty guy, what is the next goal?

Pocock: The next step for me is a top ten result that is really what I want to do now. I am riding really good and fighting and wanting it and keeping me fit. My best last year was also a 13^th in France. I got a lucky break, there was a pile-up and a lot of guys went down and I got that 13^th.

MXlarge: You seem more in control of your races this year?

Pocock: This year I am fighting hard, actually racing the pack, rather than just getting through it and thinking how lucky I was to get that point. It is about building myself up.

MXlarge:  Obviously Jake is a little ahead of you in the Grand Prix races, but you often get in behind him, that must be a big motivation to try and beat a fellow British rider?

Pocock: Jake is two years older than me, and I see myself only a little behind him. I know he is riding further up the pack and he’s had some top ten places, but I feel I can beat him. He is a fellow British, so you have to be harder on yourself against those guys. I need to get some good starts and put myself up there

MXlarge: I am guessing that Jake has that same motivation to beat Shaun (Simpson). Being the top Brit at a GP has a nice ring to it.

Pocock: For sure, when he is just in front of me and I can hang with him, then I want to beat him. I mean if Jake is in a pack it motivates me to keep with him, and I am sure it’s the same with him and Shaun. He is just a few seconds faster than me in the GP’s, so I need to work on that.

MXlarge: How is the British championship going for you?

Pocock: I am sixth I think, the first two rounds I thought it was going easier than the Grand Prix’s, but I got taken down in the start, roughed around, got wiped out by a few people. I was getting 10^th and 11^th and I was thinking I got a 13^th at a Grand Prix and I am getting 10^th and 11^th in British Championships. At Lyng I showed what I can do and run up front with Zach and Jake and got myself on the podium, so I was pumped with that.

MXlarge: So you have pretty much been wanting to crack the top ten and the season is getting closer to the end. Which circuits do you like and from the ones coming up where do you think you have a good chance to get that top ten?

Pocock: All this year it’s been to be in the top ten in the World, that is pretty good going I think. I like places like Latvia, because it’s sandy and whooped out. I don’t really think about the track that much, I just try and get on with it. I am not a hard pack or sand rider, I just like it all. It’s better that way I think.

MXlarge: Last question. A lot of riders have been looked at to be in the British Motocross of Nations team and obviously at the moment you are not in that list, but it has to be a goal?

Pocock: There is a chance I could be in the des Nations. I mean if some guys get injured I could be chucked in at the deep end. I see myself in a few years time maybe having a place in the team and racing for England. I still have to make a few steps, but I think I can make them.