REVO Husqvarna UK team-mates Mel Pocock and Martin Barr filled the top two steps of the podium at the fifth outing of the 2018 Maxxis ACU British Motocross Championship supported by Pro Clean in dreadful conditions at Duns on Sunday.
Racing in torrential rain, strong winds and thick fog, the normally hard-pack track in the Scottish Borders was turned into a mudbath with the promoters forced to abandon the meeting with two races still to go.
The full MX2 programme still ran, however, with both Mel and Martin surviving a number of crashes to make it the most successful day in the team’s history. At the end of the day they were locked together on points at the top with Mel getting the overall – his first for over four years – on a tie-break.
Unfortunately, the team’s third Pro rider Dylan Woodcock fractured his thumb in qualification and was unable to race.
Martin qualified in fourth with Mel fifth before the weather front hit, making conditions tough for the opening race. Martin gated near the front and despite a crash was able to pull through to third at the flag but Mel faced a race-long charge up to fourth after going down in the first turn and restarting dead last.
Worsening weather made race two a lottery but as the going got tough the pair dug deep and got going with Mel only securing the overall with a last-lap pass on Martin for third.
Team Principal, Mark Yates: “It’s been a brilliant weekend. Obviously, it was really horrendous weather but getting a 1-2 on the podium is mega for Mel and Martin and the team but I feel for Dylan who had a bad accident in qualifying and has hurt his thumb.
“In the conditions of that second moto Mel and Martin were outstanding to keep it upright – although they both had a few spills – and the result underlines all the hard work and commitment they put into racing along with all the effort of the team behind them.”
What the REVO Husqvarna riders had to say
Mel Pocock: “It’s been a long, long time since I was on top of the podium. I can’t actually remember when. In the opening race I went down in the first corner and was completely last but battled back all the way up to fourth. It was a really good, strong ride.
“The second race was just mayhem. I crashed six times. I can’t believe how hard it was – I think one lap I lost four positions and one lap I gained four positions – but I’m glad to come away with the win.”
Martin Barr: “It’s been a tough day but it’s been the same for everybody. Qualifying started off all right and I ended up fourth and in race one I got a decent enough start, nipped up the inside and came out around fifth. I moved through to third but then went down, dropped back to fifth and got going again and recovered for third by the end.
“In race two I just spun up and got a real bad start but I kept it going. I made a few mistakes and for the last few laps I just couldn’t see a thing – on the last lap I lost three positions which cost me the overall but it’s been a good day with me and Mel both on the podium.”
What next for REVO Husqvarna?
After battling the mud and the unseasonal weather in Scotland there’s no rest for the REVO Husqvarna squad as they head to Belgium for EMX250 and what is arguably the toughest track of the year for the MXGP of Belgium at Lommel on August 4/5. With four rounds to go Pocock lies second in the EMX250 standings, 19 points from Boisrame. Martin Barr sits in third a further 13 points back.
Contrasting with Duns last weekend, the weather is forecast to be much hotter and drier with temperatures in Lommel set for 30°C or more across the weekend.
