South Australian Brett Metcalfe is certain he’ll be able to narrow the gap on the front men of the 2011 Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship in the season’s second half.

Metcalfe, who finished second as a rookie in the 450 Class last year, has been gaining strength aboard his Rockstar Makita Suzuki, finally confident that he can challenge countryman Chad Reed, teammate Ryan Dungey and AMA SX champion Ryan Villopoto.

“I believe I can. And I think that’s the biggest part of it, if you believe you can, and I truly believe I can,” Metcalfe told U.S. publication Racer X earlier today.

“My speed has really been coming around in practice times and lap times, now it’s just a matter of getting a start and putting myself in position to challenge. When you don’t have the speed to come from 10th to first it’s not going to happen, you have to start up front.

“Last year, the first half of the season I was riding well, but nothing outstanding, then the second half of the year I finished strong. This season is going a little bit similar to last year. I believe I can, and I want to.

“First step, I want to get an overall podium finish, that will be the biggest thing now. Obviously the competition has stepped up, we have a couple of guys up there this year who are going great. But I like having that competition.

“It’s good to know you’re competing with the best in the world, but to be among that group you have to beat them.”

It’s been no secret that Metcalfe has struggled somewhat in his transition from GEICO Powersports Honda’s CRF450R to the factory RM-Z450, but he says he now has it set-up to his liking. If the results don’t come, it’s no longer a matter of adapting to the bike.

“If I don’t, it’s on me. It’s always on you, of course, you’re the rider, but everything for me is dialed in,” he admitted. “If I don’t make it happen, it’s just the other guys are better, or whatever happened on the day happened. But I believe I can be up there.”

The season will continue this weekend at Spring Creek in Millville, marking round seven of 12.