Mel’s going wild for MXGP
By Team TMX on 16th Dec 16
Maxxis MX2 title contender Mel Pocock could make his MXGP debut next year with a wildcard ride at the American GP at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The 24-year-old REVO Husqvarna rider, who will make his competitive debut for the new team next month at the Redsand International in Spain, will have an FC350 at his disposal for the race on September 3.
Team owner Mark Yates has facilities close to the track and views it as an ideal opportunity to test Pocock's form ahead of a planned GP campaign in 2018.
"Our view is to build up and build up so going into 2018 we go back to GPs," said Yates.
"Already I've spoken to Robert Jonas [Husqvarna's motorsport boss] in Austria who's agreed to let me have a 350 that we will probably develop and prepare to do the GP at Charlotte this coming season which will be a feeler for us.
"If we've had a relatively good year by the time Charlotte comes we'll look at doing it.
"The reason I want to do Charlotte is because I have a warehouse and staff there so it's an easy one for us and we thought it would be good motivation for Mel. It will give him something to work towards and also give us an insight into what we need to work towards for 2018. That's the goal."
Pocock, an experienced world MX2 championship competitor whose last GP appearance saw him finish sixth overall in Thailand in 2015 before sustaining a season-ending injury, would relish the chance to race at Charlotte.
"That was a good conversation [with Mark Yates]," he said. "I've done hardly any riding on a 350 or a 450 so it's a fresh idea and if everything's going well we'll have a go at it. It's exciting. It should be a good weekend."
With his first race of 2017 a month away Pocock has travelled to Spain this week for intensive testing with the team, Husqvarna UK's official MX2 representatives.
"It's still early doors and we haven't done much riding.
"This is the time of year when I knuckle down in the gym with my trainer Sol Gilbert and try and get ahead on my fitness.
"We've done four days on a bike so far which has been a good little warm-up so we're ready for Spain, then we'll come back for Christmas and then go out to Spain again."
