Former EMX250 champion Mel Pocock has sealed a deal for the 2019 season as he steps up to 450 machinery for the first time.
Pocock’s 2019 deal will see him compete in the British championship and MX Nationals for ASA UNITED KTM aboard a 450 SX-F.
And as well as stepping up to take on former MX1 champions Shaun Simpson and Tommy Searle in the Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship, he’ll also be lining up against them at select FIM Motocross World Championship rounds too.
With his career #119 already occupied by fellow Brit Ryan Houghton, Pocock makes the switch to #9 as he races the 450 class for the first time, although he may need to run with a different number in MXGP.
The 2018 EMX250 runner-up was forced out of the deal he had in place with REVO Husqvarna when Youthstream/FIM changed the age rule (without warning) in the class to under 23, this left the 26-year-old Briton in need of a new deal.
Writing on his Instagram account, Pocock said: “So happy to announce I am riding for ASA UNITED KTM in 2019 on board a SX-F450. I will be racing Maxxis British championship and MX Nationals as our main championships. Along with selected MXGPs.
“I canāt thank Lee @asascaff enough for building this team up around me. Also I need to say a special Thank you to Mark Munns #Frameclad for stepping up as my main personal sponsor that will be giving his continued support for 2019. We still have places left for sponsors if youād like to be apart of @asascaff British championship team. Thank you – #450time.”
Hopefully we’ll get an early look at Mel on a 450 at the pre-season opener Hawkstone International on February 17 although at the time of writing he hadn’t confirmed his entry.
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