REVO Husqvarna UK team-mates Mel Pocock and Martin Barr filled the top two steps of the podium at round five of the 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 mud- bath 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.
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.
Mark Yates (Team Principal)
“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.”
Martin Barr – 2nd (3-4)
“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.”
by Sean Lawless