A last-second signing for the Carlton Dry Honda Racing outfit, experienced rider Daniel McCoy has struggled to show his potential in the first-half of the Monster Energy MX Nationals season.

While McCoy has displayed speed and delivered a number of top ten moto finishes, he has conceded that developing the factory CRF450R to his liking in the limited time frame has been a difficult process.

As teams and riders reset at the half-way point of the championship, MotoOnline spoke to McCoy regarding the paddock chatter that he had parted ways with the team.

Daniel McCoy on track at Murray Bridge. Image: Jeff Crow/Sport the Library.

There has been speculation around your future with the Carlton Dry Honda team beyond the mid-point of the MX Nationals season. Can you can confirm that a decision has been reached at this stage?

At this stage I won’t be doing the last five rounds of motocross. It’s kind of a mutual feeling, I suppose, between the team and myself. With me only being there as a fill-in rider it’s near impossible for me to keep training at the level I need to and get the results I need to get when I’m out trying to get a job during the week as I wasn’t getting paid by the team. In my eyes it’s going to be very hard to get better results than what I’ve been getting, and the realistic side of things is to not continue.

I had a three-round contract to start with, and if they were happy with me and I was happy with how things were going then we could continue. Obviously we’d work something out from thereon. I’m really disappointed. I’ve got the bike to where I want it. The suspension is really good now and the motor is somewhat close to where I need it to be and I was looking forward to this six-week break to improve my riding in all areas – from speed and fitness. At the end of the day you have to be realistic and do what you’ve got to do.

There are still five MX Nationals round left on the table. Do you feel you’ll be back to contest any of these or are your plans to prepare for Supercross?

I’m not too sure about MX Nationals. Right now I’m just going to try to get my Supercross track ready and work towards that. I’m not going to stop training and I’m not going to change too much of what I’ve been doing. I’ll look towards that but also be doing other work things to keep myself on two feet. It’s not really something I’m going to do at this stage.

McCoy is hopeful his customary number 65 will run up front in Supercross regardless of the brand he chooses. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.

Have you been able to firm up any details for your Supercross campaign – any hint as to which bike you may choose to ride?

Honda have sort of said that they’re keen to help me out for Supercross and I think that would be a privateer option. Either way, I don’t mind. I know I’m going to be at the Supercross on whatever brand of bike or support I can get, to get the results I know I can and want to get. At this stage nothing is confirmed anywhere and in my eyes I’m open to anything.

All I need at this stage is bikes and a support program. I’ve got the people around me, I’ve got a motor guy, a suspension guy, obviously you need money to get to the races too, but that’s something I can work on. There’s no doubt in my mind that being a privateer for Supercross, I know that the bike will be exactly the way I want it. I won’t have the problem of possibly head butting with a team trying to get what I need to get results. I’m super-excited about that either way.

Thanks for the insight, Dan!